The penultimate week of the Pindan Premier Grade season is before us and Associates will take on Cottesloe in the Preliminary Final at Pat O’Hara Reserve in Morley this Saturday.
The winners will catapult into next week’s Grand Final against a refreshed Nedlands with everything to play for.
The losers will head home and prepare their costumes, relying on Mad Monday celebrations to quell the disappointment of an exit so close to the decider.
Soaks have won both encounters between the two sides this year and will hope that translates into another win this weekend.
The most recent clash came in Round 10 when Soaks comfortably accounted for Cott 35-10.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and both teams like their chances going into this weekend.
Soaks, who cruelly lost in the last minute of last week’s game, have already flagged areas that require improvement this week.
“When we looked at the tape we just didn’t play with any patience,” Coach Andy Cole said.
“We actually generated some field position but we just didn’t finish it off. We need to play with a bit more patience.”
Cole was wary of Cott’s form of late and suspected the local rivalry between the clubs will add some spice to this week’s battle.
“Obviously they just beat the reigning premiers so they must be doing something right,” he said. “Besides the final, its also a local derby.”
“It doesn’t matter when you play Cott; they always come out with a little bit extra (in derbies).”
Cottesloe’s victory last week was all but assured shortly after half time. Coach Ian Fowler admitted there was an element of self-preservation during the second half.
“We were trying to look after a couple of players who were fatigued and were potentially going to get injured.” Fowler said.
Fowler rates the Soaks side as the best performing team in the second half of the season.
“They put up a performance every time they run on and we haven’t really matched them this year,” Fowler said.
“We have to improve on our effort from where we’ve been against them this year. They are a well-coached team and we will have to be at our best.”
Cott’s ball control allowed them to dominate possession last week but Fowler doesn’t expect the same on Saturday.
“We had a real focus on that side of things but we didn’t do it for 80 minutes and that’s where we have to improve. It may be more difficult (against Associates)” he said.
Both coaches elected to play their cards close to their chest in relation to potential changes in personnel.
Fowler however expected both teams to go into the match with a few players not 100% fit from the previous week’s games.
“After last weekend, everyone will have soreness and injuries; it was pretty tiring rugby and everyone is going to be carrying niggles,” he said.
“I’m pretty hopeful that everyone will play.”
Meanwhile, Nedlands sit and intently await the winner, knowing they were beaten last year by a University team that took them by surprise.