FOR the first time there will be a senior battle of the Mid North Coast when Port Macquarie plays host to Camden Haven.
The competition newcomers will have their hands full trying to overcome the reigning premier but Camden Haven is out to gain the upper hand against big brother.
The clash is also significant as it’s the first match for premiership points being played under lights at Wayne Richards Park with the first bounce taking place at 6pm.
Magpies coach Scott Abercrombie doesn’t mean any disrespect to the neighbouring club but he thinks Saturday night’s clash has been a lot higher on the Camden Haven agenda than it has been with his team.
“I sort of liken it to the Swans and GWS or Adelaide and Port Adelaide, they’re the new kids on the block,” Abercrombie said.
“Without trying to be disrespectful to the Bombers I think it possibly means more to them than it does to us.”
That’s not to say the Magpies will be taking Camden Haven lightly. It is for the above reason Abercrombie said his team needs to be near the top of its game, especially early.
“We’ve got to be aware they will be pretty pumped up and after last week’s win will be on a bit of a high.”
Playing at less than full strength for the opening part of the season left the reigning premier hamstrung but the Magpies are starting to get somewhere close to their best 22, although it’s a battle.
“Every time we think we might be getting to full strength there’s a few pull out for a variety of reasons,” the coach admitted.
“We’re getting there though. Last week Taylor Stone played his first game after coming up from Tasmania and this week Jason Smith, who has come up from Wagga, will be able to play after serving a suspension.
“We’ve still got a few out but we’re much closer to being near full strength.”
Photo credit: Rob Wright/Coffs Coast Advocate
Is there a top two teams or is it a top three?
IT’S only early in the season but the result of Saturday’s clash at Ellem Oval will have massive ramifications.
Sawtell/Toormina can entrench itself in the top two with a win on the road against Grafton.
On the other hand the Tigers will be keen to win at home to ensure it remains a strong chance of capturing a coveted double chance at the end of the season.
Failure to do so will mean the Tigers fall two games behind the Saints.
Grafton coach Adi Campbell admits he knows the stakes are high on Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately for Campbell and the Tigers, injuries means the team isn’t firing on all eight cylinders at the moment.
“We’ve got a few older blokes struggling with injury,” Campbell said.
While the players still on the field for Grafton are far from the proverbial sow’s ear, Campbell is doing all he can to create a silk purse.
“We’re trying to develop some players to be able to step up and fill in those guys,” he said.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve had a couple of 15 and 16 year-olds playing for us and they’re coming along really well for us.
“They’re still a season or two away from being consistently good players but they’ve been very handy.”
The Saints suffered their first loss last week against the Swans but lost no admirers in doing so.
Win on Saturday and coach Jim Angel has the team’s season all set-up.
Swans won’t take rivals lightly
TOP of the table Coffs Swans host the winless North Coffs but that doesn't mean there won't be much tension at Fitzroy Oval.
These two clubs have been fierce cross-town rivals for more than 30 years and the Kangaroos would love nothing more than to put some egg on the undefeated Swans' faces.
It is for this reason Coffs Swans playing-coach Jay Guthrie said his team won’t be taking the opposition lightly.
“We make sure we respect every opponent we play, it doesn’t matter who it is,” Guthrie said.
North Coffs has started the season poorly and last week’s effort of scoring only one behind down at Port Macquarie was one of the worst scoreboard results in the club’s history.
Assistant coach Tim Joseph will be calling the shots for the Kangaroos again this week in the absence of Darren Funston and he said North Coffs supporters can expect better from their team on Saturday.
“Last week we had a couple of injuries almost straight away and finished the game with only 14 players,” Joseph said.
“Despite that the boys still chased, harassed and got it into our forward 50 but when it was there it was a one-on-three or one-on-four contest because we were undermanned.
“Playing in Coffs Harbour we’ll be able to field a stronger team with a couple on the bench which will make a difference.”
Last Modified on 10/05/2014 09:21