After moving within 90 minutes of the FFA Cup round-of-32 during this week, Kemblawarra Fury could be excused for taking just a moment to dream of creating their own slice of Illawarra Premier League history.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, coach Luke McGuire will be allowing no such thing.
McGuire intends on keeping his troops grounded as the Fury juggle their Cup aspirations at the same time as they attempt to stay in-touch with ladder leaders Bulli in the local competition.
The Fury resume their IPL campaign against Picton Rangers on Saturday, just four days after they sealed a spot in the Cup’s seventh round.
A 90th minute winner from Liam Unicomb helped Kemblawarra beat NSW NPL 3 side Fraser Park 2-1 in round six on Wednesday night.
The win set-up a stoush with Hills Brumbies next Wednesday where the winner will secure a spot in the main draw – a feat no IPL club has ever achieved in the Cup’s three previous editions.
The match provides what is undoubtedly a massive opportunity for the Fury, but McGuire refuses to allow his squad to get carried away.
“The main draw is fantasy land for us at the moment,” he said after their mid-week win.
“We have got 90 minutes where we have to play a NSW NPL 2 side now. They are going alright in their league as well and it is just the little things that they do as well.
“They have three nights a week training and started training back in November so all these sides have got the wood on us and we are just trying to do our best.”
McGuire is a former coach at the Brumbies and plans to travel to Sydney to see them play Mounties Wanderers on Sunday.
But before he changes his focus the Fury boss is keen to extend his team’s winning run in the league to five matches at Picton.
“I said to the boys after the game [on Wednesday] that Picton is our next job and we have to make sure get three points there,” McGuire said.
“Bulli are continuing to set the pace in the league and we just have to try to keep up.”
Kemblawarra are six points behind ladder-leaders Bulli heading into the weekend, but hold a match up their sleeve.
Bulli, who are also in round seven of the Cup, host Corrimal Rangers on Saturday.
Wollongong United face Woonona and Albion Park White Eagles meet Tarrawanna.
On Sunday, Port Kembla and Cringila Lions do battle while South Coast United play Wollongong Olympic.