Despite an interrupted build-up to their rescheduled match against the Brisbane Roar, North Queensland Fury are ready to throw everything at the league leaders in a David v Goliath battle on Tuesday night at Skilled Park.
Despite an interrupted build-up to their rescheduled match against the Brisbane Roar, North Queensland Fury are ready to throw everything at the league leaders in a David v Goliath battle on Tuesday night at Skilled Park.
Having spent the past week dealing with the threat of Cyclone Yasi, the club was forced to have their last home clash moved to the Gold Coast after Dairy Farmers Stadium was damaged during the cyclonic weather.
North Queensland Fury Assistant Coach Stuart McLaren was disappointed their last game of the season in front of a home crowd had to be moved, but said the team had coped well with the last minute change.
“It’s majorly disappointing for us not to have the chance to play a final league game at Dairy Farmers Stadium,” McLaren said.
“Obviously the focus has been away from football the last couple of days and sometimes it’s difficult for the players mentally to get readjusted again.”
“But I think they’ve done well at training yesterday and again this morning.”
McLaren was hoping that despite unfavourable circumstances his team could finish the season on a high.
“There are obviously a lot of circumstances that have been working against us for the last part of the season.”
“We’ve got two games to go now to really focus and try and finish on a high note.”
“We need to go and have a good showing against Brisbane and then Wellington,” he said.
The Fury, however, suffered another setback on Monday afternoon, as midfielder Isaka Cernak suffered a groin injury ruling him out of the clash against the league’s newly crowned premiers.
“He’s going to miss a chance to play against Brisbane but we hope we have nipped it in the bud so to speak and he’ll at least get the chance to finish off the season against Wellington.”
With the premiership all but wrapped up by the Roar after Central Coast could only manage a 1-1 draw last Friday with Melbourne Heart, McLaren said there could be some fresh faces taking the field for the Roar but he didn’t believe they would be taking the clash lightly.
“I think if they’ve one or two players that might be carrying niggling injuries they might take this week to get them fresh for the finals but I know there is no way they will be looking to take their foot off the gas,” McLaren said.
“They will be looking to really build some momentum and finish off the regular season with that long undefeated record,” he said.
