The Split N Stawell Wildcats will have their work cut our this weekend when they meet Portland Coasters and Mount Gambier Lakers in a tough double header.
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Stawell will tackle the higher placed teams at the Stawell Leisure Centre with Portland being the first test.
The Lady Wildcats will have a depleted roster to what they have been used to with only three, possibly four of their regular starting group available.
Wildcats will field a stronger team on the Sunday with the Saturday match giving bench players plenty of opportunity to step up.
Courtney Morrow will return at full fitness after an extra week off to recover while Maggie Clough will miss at least the next three matches with an ankle injury sustained in the domestic competition.
Erin Freeland will be a missing body on the glass on Saturday night but will bolster the list when she returns Sunday.
Roxane Moos was forced to take a fitness test Thursday night in order to play on Saturday.
The Wildcats will be hoping for an improved performance from their last outing which saw them lose to Warrnambool Mermaids after leading at the first break.
Coach Grace Bibby is well aware of how a lack of availability will effect her team’s performance.
“We have got girls that may have to start that haven't played more than 10 minutes for the season,” Bibby said.
“It will be a tough ask but a good opportunity.
“I am not expecting us to go out and win but we still want to be competitive.”
The Lady Wildcats have been competitive for at least one quarter in every game they have played but they will need to bring a four quarter effort to be in the either game.
Wildcats have stripped their training back to basic technique in order to improve their scoring output.
The Wildcats men will also be without some of their players with Joel Freeland at this stage unavailable.
Jesse Poulton and Jono Pollock will be hopeful of returning from injuries that kept them out of the clash with Warrnambool a fortnight ago.
Aiden Marr and Jarred Ohayon have been the go to men for scoring options and will again be required to play well.
Tip off is from 6.00pm Saturday night with the men following at 8.00pm.
On Sunday the women start at 12 noon and the men will start at 2.00pm.