Finals start now, one week early
Who will make the top 4 and where teams will finish comes down to one match and that fixture is between Warwick and South Toowoomba at Reddies Oval.
A Warwick win will see the Redback's claim the minor premiership and the all-important second chance for finals. South Toowoomba lose and their finals chances hinges on the back of a Tigers upset over the Hawks, otherwise the Bombers will slide out and Goondiwindi into the top 4.
South Toowoomba win and they secure a finals berth, with a Warwick loss could see the Reddies slide from first to third and back up to play the Bombers again next week.
Warwick has only loss three games this season, with two of those against the Bombers. Once at Reddies Oval and the other at South Toowoomba's home ground Heritage Oval. This will give the Bombers a psychological edge as they are the only side that have beaten the Redback's in Warwick this season.
However, many are tipping the home side to run riot against a limping Bombers outfit that is suffering a carbon copy of their 2013 campaign, with key injuries another barrier to the red and black.
Three Redback's will be the key in Brendan Iles, Coen Slatter and Tyhe Clarkson, the most consistent men in red and blue this season. Mid-season recruits in Benjamin Heppell (Coomera AFC), Damien Morris (Lockyer Valley AFC) and Daniel Brauer (Coomera AFC) have assisted in bolstering the Redback's stocks as the red and blue look for the extra edge on the competition.
For the Bombers, captain Ben Newman has been in terrific form over the last month, as has his vice Jeff Neumann who is having a terrific season.
South Toowoomba will be without several key personnel and will look to the next generation of Bombers to help with the work load. Young Bombers in Tasman Myles, Daniel Verrall and Dylan Newman have been consistent this season and just about ready to launch, with now the right time to blast off.
It should be an interesting battle, a game that can't be over thought by either of the teams coaching staff. The side that can execute the basics for four quarters will come out on top.
With the 2014 Allied Pickford's Division 1 Cup final top 4 coming down to this game, expect the intensity to be finals like.
Saturday 23rd August – 2:30pm
Warwick V South Toowoomba @ Reddies Oval
Last Modified on 25/08/2014 08:31
