Words: Michael Flynn
Image: FNQ FC Heat

FNQ Heat midfielder Cameron Nucifora believes a full-team effort is key to the Cairns club advancing past Oakleigh Cannons in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Tuesday night’s match marks the second straight Round of 32 appearance for Heat, who are currently in a rich vein of form in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland.

Undefeated in their past five league outings, Heat saw off a determined Olympic FC 2-1 on Saturday night - a result made more impressive by the absence of leading goal scorer Alex Smith.

Smith has recently been on trial with Hyundai A-League club Newcastle Jets and the club is preparing to line-up once more against Cannons on Tuesday without their high profile attacking midfielder.

However, Nucifora, 19, said confidence is sky high in the Heat squad following the win against Olympic and the team is prepared for the task ahead.

“The second half was a fair bit scrappy and we didn’t really play the best football, but everyone showed desperation and put in the extra yards and we came out with the result,” Nucifora explained of their second win again Olympic this season.

He added, “We did miss Alex and we do rely on him a lot, but we adapted and played a little bit of a different style of football.”

“We can definitely do it without him and hopefully the boys got a fair bit of confidence out of it and believe that we don’t need him to score the goals.”

Another concern for Heat’s predominantly local squad is how they will handle the notoriously bitter Melbourne winter.

Nucifora, who is Cairns born and raised, said lessons had been learned from last year’s Round of 32 defeat to Sydney United on a wet night in Sydney.

“In Sydney last year, I remember it being really cold and I couldn’t feel my toes in my boots warming up,” he explained.

Nucifora clarified that avoiding another slow start in such conditions will be crucial to preventing a repeat of last year’s early exit.

“We went into that game a bit unsteady but after the first twenty minutes we were in the game and we were a lot better. But we were on the back foot and lost it early.”

“I believe we could’ve done better and we should’ve done better. As long as we have the right mindset then we can give Oakleigh a good run and come home with a win.”

However, he conceded that the task at hands remains difficult with Cannons expected to boast former Hyundai A-League players Kofi Danning, Steve Pantelidis and Sean Rooney in their line-up.

“They’re not doing too well this season but they do have a lot of big names and good players in their team.”

“Especially being a cup game, everyone steps up. So it’s going to be a tough one and we will have to be at our best,” Nucifora concluded.

Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32
Oakleigh Cannons v FNQ FC Heat
Jack Edwards Reserve, Melbourne
Tuesday, August 11
Kick-off at 7:30PM

*Streamed online at www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-cup/ffacupondemand and Apple TV via FOX SPORTS Now