North Cairns coach Wes Lord knows his side will spend September sitting in the grandstands if they suffer too many more losses this season.
The tigers sit fifth on the AFL Cairns ladder after 11 rounds, two wins behind the fourth placed Manunda Hawks.
While tis not quite do or die yet for the Tigers, it will be difficult to find a pulse if they lose to reigning premiers Cairns Saints at Watsons Oval today.
Defeat however, is not a thought that has been entertained by the Tigers at training this week, and neither has missing the top four.
Lord, who took over as Tigers coach after Brett Oakley’s sudden departure earlier this year, said the clubs finals fate was still in the Players hands.
“We’re right on the brink,” he said. “If we can win these games over the next couple that could set us up for the rest of the season, but if we lose them then we could be struggling.
“But it (playing finals football) is one of the things we have been thinking about and it’s acting as motivation to keep us going.”
The Tigers last played the Saints in May and it was the defending premiers that won by 31 points on that afternoon dominating the first three quarters.
The tigers are backing up a big win over bottom places South Cairns last week, while Saints will be out to atone for their loss to Centrals Trinity Beach.
Few challenges in the League are as tough as facing a rebounding Saints but Lord said that the Tigers are primed for a battle.
“Saints will be tough, especially coming out of a loss,” Lord said.
“Last time we played them we gave them a good start and that really hurt us before finishing off the game quite well. Our starts are one of the things we’ve been working on.
“Everyone is positive and in a good frame of mind at the club, which is good to see.”
In other games tomorrow, ladder-leaders Port Douglas head to Cazaly’s for a match against the Hawks, while Centrals Trinity Beach host South Cairns art Crathern Oval
All games start at 3pm
Last Modified on 29/10/2010 11:27