Words: Sam Flanagan
Image: Pine Creek Pictures

Despite contrasting starts to 2016, both Northern Fury and FNQ Heat are adamant anything can happen in their Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 6 clash in Cairns.

This weekend’s match marks the fourth meeting between the clubs this year following two pre-season games and their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues clash in early April.

Heat currently hold bragging rights in the derby, winning all three matches as part of a stunning 2016 that has seen the club taste defeat just once in all competitions.

It’s a far different tail for their southern rivals though, with the Fury winless and anchored to the bottom of the league ladder.

However, Heat coach Tim Campbell knows his side cannot afford to underestimate a hurting Fury outfit in the do-or-die setting of the Westfield FFA Cup.

“If there’s one game every season that you just can’t prepare properly for (this is it), no one knows what’s going to happen,” Campbell explained.

“They have a fantastic coach, a great set up and they are a good bunch of lads who will come up and give it their best shot.”

“I hope we can match them because they’ll give us a good test.”

Fresh off scoring two goals against local third-tier club Rebels FC in Preliminary Round 5 – his side’s only win of the year thus far -  Fury winger Jonathon Bagley says his team see Sundays clash as a chance to kick start their season.

“We’re going to look at it as a clean slate. It’s a new comp and we’re going to come out fighting for it from the start,” said Bagley, who remains under an injury cloud for the match.

“It’s a new goal for us to finally get over the line this weekend against the Heat. In the last two years we’ve only beaten them once and that was away.”

Bagley also believes a win in the Westfield Cup could spark a run of form for the Fury in the League.

“We’re trying to find our feet again and if we can pull off a win this weekend it will definitely add momentum for us in the NPL,” he concluded.

The match at Barlow Park is the third time Heat and Fury have clashed in Westfield FFA Cup Qualifying, with Heat twice eliminating their rivals in previous years as they twice advanced to the national Round of 32.

Fury have never reached the national stages of the Westfield FFA Cup.

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 6
Sunday, May 8
FNQ FC Heat v Northern Fury FC
Barlow Park, Cairns
Kick-off at 1:30PM