Cairns City Lions coach Marc Harbrow reckons this weekend's clash against the North Cairns Tigers may as well be a grand final.
The fourth-placed Lions are desperate to secure an AFL Cairns finals berth for the first time in 13 years, needing a win against the Tigers this Saturday to stay in the top four and keep their dream alive.
And with only five rounds to go until the finals, Harbrow said now was the time for his troops to step up and make it count.
"To jump up the ladder into fourth place is already a massive achievement, but it's my job to remind the players that the job isn't done," he said.
"We've still got a long way to go and those five games mean nothing if we don't win on Saturday."
The injury-hit Lions suffered a demoralising 108-point loss to South Cairns last weekend, but Harbrow said his side would need to shake it off and come out firing against an experienced North Cairns outfit.
"I expect the Tigers to come out guns blazing, especially in the first quarter," he said.
"There will be nothing but relentless footy from them."
The Lions are set to welcome back centre-half forward Mick Paul (ankle), fullback Corey Wallace (elbow) and possibly Walter Peter for their clash against the Tigers.
"Mickey's a big mark within a pack and can kick goals, so he's very vital to that forward line," Harbrow said.
"We can't just play a good half, we've got to play four quarters. Relentless footy wins games."
Tigers coach Dave Arnfield said his men would be equally as desperate to make the top four, with the team sitting in fifth place and just two points behind the Lions.
"If we bring the same competitiveness into the game that we did in the second half against Cairns Saints in our loss last weekend, I'll be happy," Arnfield said. "We can't make too many changes to our squad, we've been hit with injuires at the moment."
Arnfield said his side was msising as many as eight key players, including inspirational captain Kane Richter due to concussion. But pending the outcome of training this week, Richter could be a last-minute inclusion in the squad.
"Kane's an on-field leader. He's been an integral part of the team for a few years now and he's a really important player," Arnfield said.
"But if there's any risk at all, we won't consider him.'
In the weekend's other games, South Cairns take on Port Douglas and Manunda face Cairns Saints.
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 14:19