Wolves coach Jacob Timpano is hopeful of having all hands on deck for the first time this preseason when Wollongong meet Belconnen United in Bowral this weekend.
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Timpano is yet to have a full compliment of players to choose less than three weeks out from the beginning of the NSW National Premier League campaign.
Regular striker Peter Simonoski has battled niggling injuries throughout the preseason and has not suited up in any recent trials.
Veteran midfielder Nick Montgomery has also missed several matches while new Japanese signing Takuya Nozawa has only been with the squad for the past fortnight.
Montgomery, Simonoski and Michael Robinson all missed the club’s last trial match against Rydalmere Lions, but Timpano is hopefully of having everyone available as he looks finalise his starting line-up heading into a round one date with NPL powerhouse Blacktown City.
“Pete [Simonoski] is the only one who hasn’t played at all this preseason but we are hoping to get him some game time this weekend,” he said.
“Nick will also hopefully be available, which would give us a full complement of players for the first time. It will give us two games to get things right before round one kicks-off at home in a couple of weeks time.
“It would have been ideal to have a couple of weeks longer, but that’s the way the preseason has worked out so we just have to make the most of an important two weeks.”
Timpano admitted it would take time for new addition Nozawa to hit top gear as the former Japanese star settles into life in Australia.
Nozawa played for 60 minutes last weekend in the Wolves’ 1-1 draw with NSW National Premier League Men’s 2 outfit Rydalmere.
“We saw some glimpses of the brilliance we know he is capable of, but realistically we know he might take some time to adjust,” Timpano said.
“He is slowly building up to full fitness again and we will continue to manage that over the next couple of weeks.
“Hopefully in a few weeks he will be in good condition to peak which I am looking forward to.”
Wollongong will travel to Bowral’s David Woods Playing Fields on Saturday for the second edition of the Festival of Football.
The club took the same preseason matches to Nowra last season and will put a free coaching clinic on Saturday before playing against United on Sunday.
The Wolves under-18s, under 20s and first grades teams will face off against the Canberra-based club while the Illawarra Stingrays will go head-to-head with United’s women’s team.
“It’s great to be able to take the game up to Bowral, along with the Stingrays,” Timpano said.
“It should be a really good weekend and hopefully the community gets behind it as we take another crucial step in our preseason.”
The football clinic will run from 1pm to 430pm on Saturday, with matches running from 11am on Sunday.
