STAWELL Warriors will play Horsham Demons in the first semi-final on Sunday at Dimboola Recreation Reserve in a game that could go either way.
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Stawell won the most recent encounter between the two sides in round 16 but coach Brad Thomas knows finals football is a different matter.
“The pressure goes up in finals,” he said.
“It also comes down to how much pressure you put on.”
Demons coach Nick Pekin added his side was missing players in that encounter.
“This time around will be a totally different game,” he said.
Thomas expects much of how the game pans out will be determined by the midfield battle.
“Horsham are a strong stoppage side,” he said.
“It’s not just about who gets the first hands to the ball in the air.
“We need to working hard in and under away from the stoppages in order to clear the ball.”
Stawell ruckman Shane Field was prominent at getting his hand to the ball first in Stawell’s qualifying final loss to Horsham Saints and will be important again on Sunday.
Demons coach Nick Pekin did not agree the midfield battle would be the as vital to the match.
“Everyone says the game will be won and lost in the midfield but I think it’s more all over the ground,” he said.
“I think a lot of it will be about their backs and our forwards.
“If we can structure up well and work together to create space then we give ourselves the best chance.”
Pekin said after watching Stawell play on Saturday he know his team would have to be accountable across the whole ground.
“Stawell’s depth goes way past the 21 on the field,” he said.
“Their reserves are right up there as well. To be competitive we need everyone to be contributing.”
Following a big win against Warrack in the elimination final, Horsham will not be looking to change much about how it approaches the game.
“There will be a few key points specific to Stawell but we’ll still be relying on our structures,” Pekin said.
“Against Warrack we maybe did it for a half.
“We’ll need to be sticking with it for four quarters”
Thomas said his side was recovering well from its qualifying final hit out despite running out of legs late in the game.
He expected his lineup to be similar to the one that lined up against the Saints.
The Demons look likely to replace Harry Young.
Young came off late in the first quarter against Warrack Eagles.
Pekin said Young would go for scans on Thursday before the club made a final decision on the lineup.
“Other than that its just a bit of general soreness,” he said.
Thomas said he was looking forward to a good match.
“Horsham are a really good side with lots of finals experience,” he said
“There’s no one player that you need to stop.
“It’s going to be a tough match.”