SORELL is banking on the return of skipper Josh White to give it a big enough boost in physical presence to topple undefeated Dodges Ferry in their SFL clash at Pembroke Park today.
White missed the Eagles' galant loss to Lindisfarne last week because of the concussion he received from a major hit in the round four clash with Central Hawks a week earlier.
Sorell coach Fabian Ackroyd said yesterday the injection of White into his backline would be a confidence-booster.
``It will give us a big lift in on-field leadership and physical presence,'' Ackroyd said.
``Josh is a very physical player and his leadership is important to the team, so it will lift the other players to have him out there directing traffic.''
The Eagles also recalled big utility Nick Grubb and allrounder Brett Grubb. Both were unavailable last week.
The Sorell-Dodges derbies are usually hard-fought affairs and Ackroyd is acutely aware of the powerful Sharks' liking for Pembroke Park.
``They usually play well at our ground but we are keen to make it our fortress,'' he said.
Sorell has a 2-1 win-loss record at home this season.
``We dropped our home game to the Hawks. They kicked five goals in the first 18 minutes and that put us away,'' Ackroyd said.
``We pride ourselves on being hard to beat at home.
``Dodges Ferry has always played our ground relatively well, so we'll have to be spot-on with our match-ups and have the right mindset from the start.''
The Sharks are 5-0 going into the game but coach Danny Ling said the clash with Sorell was the beginning of an acid test for his team.
``We've been going OK but we probably haven't played the top sides yet,'' Ling said.
``We've got Sorell this week, and then we play Central Hawks, Lindisfarne and New Norfolk over the next five weeks.
``That will give us an indication of how we are going.''
Fourth-placed Central Hawks host Lindisfarne at Oatlands in a clash of two undefeated teams.
But because of Lindisfarne's massive percentage, the Hawks cannot move up the ladder from fourth, even if they win.
Huonville has the chance to cement its place in the top six if the Lions can overcome Cygnet at Cygnet.
Kingborough can stake its claim for a berth in the top six if the Tigers beat winless Claremont at Abbotsfield Park, while ladder-leader New Norfolk travels to the East Coast to meet ninth-placed Triabunna.
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