THE Devils have only beaten reigning VFL premier Sandringham once in seven meetings since joining the VFL in 2001.
That was on April 10 last year when they tore strips off the Zebras at North Hobart Oval to win by 40 points.
With a 0-5 win-loss start this season, which has left them on the bottom of the ladder, the Devils have never needed a second win over third-placed Sandringham as desperately as they do at North Hobart tomorrow.
If any further incentive was needed, it was Sandringham which cost them a berth in last year's grand final with a 38-point preliminary final win.
Asked if that loss would be a major motivation for the Devils, coach Mathew Armstrong said: "Yes, I think so. It's something we will no doubt bring up leading into the game.
"We were about 25 points up about the half-way mark . . . . and they came over the top of us.''
The Devils go into the game without utility small Shane Wager (corked thigh), leaving Armstrong to weigh up whether to risk reducing their already depleted marking power by dropping Travis Ronaldson for the sake of more run.
"We spent a bit more time this week on the physical side of our game,'' Armstrong said.
He said it was vital the Devils ran the game out, which had cost them so dearly in previous games.
For that reason, Armstrong had brought in the Burnie pair of Clinton Brown and Ben Britton.
"They are athletic and quick, so I can do more rotations off the bench,'' he said.
Asked if his players had suffered from mental as much as physical tiredness, Armstrong said: "No doubt.''
Sandringham coach Mark Williams wasn't answering his phone last night, but a side with five Melbourne-list players, including Alistair Nicholson and Guy Rigoni plus former Collingwood player Chad Liddell, spoke enough of the task the Devils face.
Last Modified on 06/05/2005 15:14