Cairns City Lions coach Jason Roe says his side will throw everything but the kitchen sink against Saints tomorrow, in what is shaping up to be an epic David versus Goliath showdown.
Without a win this season, the Lions have struggled to field a full team and come up against a rampant Saints outfit that destroyed Centrals Trinity Beach by 140 points last week.
But while he's under no illusions about the enormity of the task his side faces, Roe isn't giving up just yet.
"We're not expecting any miracles...we've just got to do the best we can and try not to get smashed," he said.
"We've just got to look at it as a challenge and get something out of it." Roe said playing structure, clearances and developing a quicker transition from defence into the forward line were aspects his team had been working on at training this week.
Tactically, the rebuilding Lions will also look to compensate for a lack of marking power in the forwards by attempting to slow down the play and crowding key Saints players such as full forward Matthew Walsh.
"We'll try to make it a bit of an arm wrestle for as long as we can," Roe said. "The scoreline is not going to concern me, but we want to improve in certain areas against good opposition."
Cairns Saints joint player-coach Nick Braybon said his side remained confident of a win heading into tomorrow's game, but warned the new-look Lions side was still very much an unknown entity.
"I haven't seen them play this season, and from all reports they take the game on and they're exciting to play against," Braybon said.
"I think they've got some forwards that could do some damage, definitely."
Braybon said the Saints would stick to their current game plan, despite injuries to key players Dan McCall and Craig Ferrier leaving them out of round 6.
"We'll look to control the ball and use it accurately around the ground as opposed to rushing the ball forward,"Braybon said.
Meanwhile, the South Cairns Cutters will look to redeem themselves when they come up against second-placed Port Douglas Crocs in tomorrow's other match at Fretwell Park.
Over at Watsons Oval, the table topping North Cairns Tigers face the Manunda Hawks in a tantalising local derby.
Last Modified on 14/06/2013 12:52