It's 11pm on Wednesday and Luke Wilkshire is just wrapping up training.
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Where there's a will, there's a way, for the Wollongong Wolves.
Such is the dire state of football in the Illawarra, with the big wet continuing and a lack of available pitches, Wilkshire managed to book the synthetic turf at Ian McLennan Park for a 9.30pm start.
It's the only full session they've managed in more than a week, after their last round game against Sydney Olympic was postponed due to the weather.
On Thursday, the Wolves were back at it with a modified session on the Fraternity Club synthetic futsal pitches, trying to make the most of a bad situation.
It comes before a crucial showdown with NSW National Premier League leaders APIA Leichhardt at Lambert Park on Friday night.
"It's extremely frustrating," Wilkshire said, having led the push for a second synthetic pitch to be introduced in the region.
"We managed to get a proper training session at Ian McLennan, but it's not ideal, certainly not in a semi-professional environment.
"We haven't trained for a week, so the boys were pretty excited to be on the pitch, even at that hour."
It comes as Football South Coast has introduced a round of games to be played back-to-back on the Ian McLennan Park pitch on Saturday.
It will start with Port Kembla playing Corrimal at 10am and finish with Albion Park against Tarrawanna kicking off at 8pm.
As McLennan Park is their home ground, South Coast United have played three games this season, while Wollongong Olympic's 1-nil win over Woonona and the 2-all draw between Coniston and Bulli (played at JJ Kelly Park) have been the only fixtures completed.
Wilkshire's focus is on the Wolves climbing the NPL ladder, after Nick Littler's goal ensured a point against Sydney FC a fortnight ago.
They are boosted by Banri Kanaizumi's return from suspension.
APIA Leichhardt have had three wins in their four games to sit atop the standings.
"We've just got to improve our mental approach, we've been starting our games too slowly," Wilkshire said.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
