Twelve points out from finals contention, Students will be seeking to unsettle Nagambie who approach the bout fresh from a crucial triumph over Katandra; a match which ended a torrid streak for the Lakers.
“It will be a tough game no doubt, but nothing changes,” Coach Chris Earl said.
“They are good team with plenty of depth, they have been a bit out of sorts lately but they’ve picked up a win against Katandra last week so they will be hard to beat.”
Although wary of the threat Nagambie’s major players pose, Earl said it would be foolish to focus all energy on the usual suspects.
“It is usually the one’s you don’t look out for that end up hurting you, so we will be treating all of them with respect.”
Currently sitting in ninth on the Haisman standings, Students’ campaign has fizzled out in a rather unflattering fashion, but despite the side unlikely to feature past February, the camaraderie remains high within the playing camp.
“(The morale is) still pretty good, the boys have enjoyed each other company all year even through finals is basically out of the question,” Earl said.
“We will just have to try and have an impact on where other teams can finish ahead of finals.”
A definitive silver lining to arise from Students’ stint at Congupna Recreation Reserve this season has been Callan McCabe’s stamp of authority on the competition.
Unplayable at his best, the all-rounder has amassed 25 wickets and 568 runs 25 wickets and 568 runs across all formats and has easily been one of the Haisman’s finest throughout the 2019/20 season.
According to Earl, it would be crime for McCabe’s name not to appear high on the shortlist when the Lightfoot Medal count comes to the crunch.
“I will be shocked if he is not (in the mix), he has had a fantastic year and hopefully he goes ahead and wins it.”