FOOTBALL
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Albion Park coach Steve Micevski is all too aware of the challenge his men face against in-form Tarrawanna on Saturday.
The Blueys have been red-hot in the Illawarra top flight recently and have secured three wins in a row over South Coast United, Bulli and Shell Cove.
"They are knocking over some big scalps and have got good results, so I would definitely call them the form side," Micevski said.
"They have obviously got someone who is putting the goals away for them. It will be a tough assignment for us.
"They are all tough but they get tougher when you are facing a team in form."
The key behind Tarrawanna's good run has been their clinical form in front of goal.
The Blueys average more goals per game than any other team in the competition with a tick over three a match.
Leading the line is off-season recruit Wandi Jajaw, who has scored a swashbuckling 10 goals from five games so far.
It has helped Tarrawanna to fourth on the ladder, two positions behind the White Eagles but with three less games played.
A win on Saturday at Tarrawanna Oval would see them draw level with Albion Park and could well be a dress rehearsal for later in the campaign.
"When you come up against a form team like Tarrawanna it gives the boys a good test to see where they are at and who they are going to be competing against towards the end of the season," Micevski said.
"At this stage it looks like Tarrawanna will be one of those teams fighting for a spot."
While Tarrawanna have put some wins together, Albion Park have struggled for consistency throughout 2015.
They fell 2-1 to Wollongong United last weekend before beating Bellambi 3-1 during the week.
"For us it is about gaining consistency," Micevski said.
"We haven't had a settled line-up because of injuries and suspension basically.
"I call us still a work in progress because we have showed signs of hitting our best, which we have done in the past few games at certain stages.
"We are having a decent half of football and a poor half."
In other matches this weekend, Wollongong United host Bellambi, Dapto Dandaloo Fury look to bounce back from their first loss against Shell Cove and Wollongong Olympic play Cringila.
On Sunday, South Coast United face Port Kembla and Olympic play a catch-up game against Cove.