They’ve got one of the toughest finishes to the season of any club, but Tarrawanna coach Peter Willis believes it will be the perfect preparation for the Blueys’ finals tilt in 2017.
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Tarrawanna face off against top-five hopefuls Albion Park White Eagles and Wollongong United in the final two rounds of their Illawarra Premier League campaign.
Both clubs are currently outside of the finals spots, but can qualify for the post-season should results go their way in the next two weeks.
United (30 points) trail fifth placed Port Kembla (32 points) by two points and seven on goal difference while the White Eagles (28 points) are further back but meet the Zebras in the final round.
Park need to beat the Blueys at Tarrawanna Oval this Saturday to keep their finals hopes, with United likely to require a similar result on the last day of the season.
Willis felt his side would relish the challenge of facing both clubs on the eve of finals.
“We have a couple of tough games and, provided we get in the finals, go in hardened rather than play a side that’s a bit lower on the ladder,” he said.
“That’s no disrespect to the lower sides, it is more for that added competition side of it.”
The Blueys are still to seal their own passage to the finals and would likely slip out of the top-five if they don’t pick up a point in their remaining two games.
However, Willis insists there is ‘no added pressure’ on his men at the business end of the season.
“We just have to go out and play,” he said.
“We haven’t played as well as we would have liked to in the past couple of games as we were mid-season.
“We have let ourselves down and the boys know that. They are out to rectify that and get back on track so to speak. The game this weekend is one that we will be taking very seriously like every other game.”
Tarrawanna can end Park’s grand final defence with a win on the weekend.
The White Eagles struggle to recapture their title winning form has been well documented this season, but they still have a major role to play as the regular season draws to a close.
“It has been unfortunate for them, but they are a dangerous side with a lot of players that can hurt you,” Willis said.
“They have got some very good players, but have just been hot and cold this season. We have to nullify them and get on with our own game.”
- ROUND 21
Tarrawanna v Albion Park White Eagles
Saturday, 2.30pm
Tarrawanna Oval
