WESTERN Storm takes on Burnie in a big State League clash at Aurora Stadium on Saturday chasing a win that could see it take over top spot on the ladder.
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The Storm moved to equal top courtesy of Clarence losing to Glenorchy on Saturday and trail the Roos by only 10 per cent.
The Roos have lost four of their past six games and face the difficult challenge of playing Eastern Shore arch-rival Lauderdale on its home ground.
If the Storm can beat Burnie and the Roos lose to Lauderdale the Storm will take over top spot on the ladder.
‘‘We’re equal on points and if we hold up our end of the bargain we will be striving to finish on top at the end of the year and that’s where we want to be going into finals,’’ Storm coach Mitch Hills said.
‘‘Burnie is a huge game – we’re 1-1 with them this year but we’ve played them both times at West Park so we will be looking forward to getting them on the big deck at home.
‘‘Hopefully we can play good consistent footy like we did against Hobart City and the result will go our way.’’
Storm should regain Chris Taylor from illness but ruckman Cody Thorp remains sidelined battling a knee injury.
Burnie should be at full strength having regained an important quartet of experienced players in Nick McKenna, Jason Laycock, Darren Banham and Rudy Barrett in their win over Devonport.
NORTH LAUNCESTON faces a difficult road trip South to play Glenorchy in a third versus fourth clash.
The Bombers chances of success were boosted by a huge blow to the Magpies with a season-ending leg injury to coach Aaron Cornelius in Saturday’s win over Clarence.
North will regain its four Mariners and Callen Young with Ethan Petterwood making a successful return in the development league last Saturday.
‘‘It will be a massive test for our footy club and the question will be asked of us again as it was against Launceston but we should have a full list available and an injection of players,’’ he said.
LAUNCESTON finds itself on the opposite end of the scale with injuries hitting hard at Windsor Park as it prepares to travel to play Devonport.
The Blues have already lost Sam Rundle and Gary Shipton with Nathan O’Donogue also sidelined indefinitely.
They lost ruckman Hamish Leedham with a shoulder injury and Tom Cleary to an ankle injury on Saturday.
‘‘Devonport is a game we have to target and they are around about the same mark as us – a young side and we are 1-1,’’ Launceston coach Scott Stephens said.
‘‘We will look to go down there and continue on the energy and enthusiasm we had in the first half against North.’’
THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES
SATURDAY
Devonport v Launceston, Devonport Oval, 2pm.
Glenorchy v North Launceston, KGV, 2pm
Western Storm v Burnie, Aurora Stadium, 1pm.
Hobart City v Tigers, North Hobart Oval, 2pm.
SUNDAY
Lauderdale v Clarence, Lauderdale Oval, 2pm.