ROUND eight will see a battle for fifth place with Warrack Eagles and Nhill Tigers to face off.
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After the interleague break, the teams have been well rested and are ready to play with both coaches expecting a high intensity clash.
Both sides are coming off of disappointing defeats to Minyip-Murtoa Burras (Warrack) and Horsham Demons (Nhill).
The Eagles were caught off guard against a determined Burras side and suffered a 72-point loss.
The Tigers put the Demons to the sword in the teams’ round seven clash but fell agonisingly short of the win.
Nhill won the opening round clash between the two sides 115 to 70.
Tigers coach Alan Barnett said he expected it to be a very different style of game.
“It will be a really tough match,” he said.
“Warrack has improved over the season and will be eager to get a much-needed four points.”
This game is an important tie for both sides as the teams search for finals berth.
Barnett said he was wary of some of the better players at the Eagles.
“Ryan McKenzie will be one player we have to keep our eyes on, he has had a really good season this year and he is in form,” he said.
“We are lacking in height coming into this game but we have some really powerful players.”
The Tigers had a great first quarter last time the sides met and Barnett said he hope his side could come out firing once again.
“I expect it to be a really good game,” he said.
Jake Corsten has been in good goal-kicking form for Nhill with 19 majors to his name after seven rounds.
Eagles coach Ryan McKenzie said the improvements his side had made throughout the year would be of enormous benefit against the Tigers.
“We are looking to be at full fitness against Nhill with a couple of our more important boys having fitness tests on Thursday night,” he said.
McKenzie said ruckman Matthew Rix was still struggling with an ankle complaint.
“He is a great player and I hope he passes the fitness test,” he said.
“I think this match will be young Charlie Wilson’s breakout game.”
McKenzie said his side needed to be more consistent throughout the game.
“We seemed to take a while to start in the first couple of games. I have emphasized that we need to stay consistent over the four quarters,” he said.
“It has been incorporated in training that we start off strongly and finish strongly as well.”
McKenzie has also been in rare form for the Eagles, kicking 17 goals for the season.
