BALLARAT RED DEVILS v WHITTLESEA RANGES
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BALLARAT Red Devils coach James Robinson knows his side will be up against it this week, as injury and illness hit the team.
In total, Robinson only expects about 14 squad members to be available for selection on Saturday for the clash against Whittlesea Ranges.
Striker Simon Murphy will miss through illness, Jake Francis is out with a minor knee injury, while Pat Karras is also set for longer stint on the sidelines.
However, the news is not as bad as first thought for Karras, who is now only expected to miss about six weeks. There will also be a fitness test for attacker Daniel Tinker, who will be given right up until the last minute to prove himself.
Robinson said although the team was down to its bare bones, it would give less experienced players the chance to shine.
He pointed to the likes of Josh De Voogel, James King and recruit Ronaldo Yousef as the sort of players who could start to take their games to a new level in the senior side.
“The injuries aren’t ideal, but we’ve been prepared for these sort of situations,” Robinson said.
“That’s why you have these boys in the environment from the start so they can make the transition into the side easier.”
Playing its last home game for almost a month, Robinson said there would have to be a number of adjustments for his side to be in touch with sixth-placed Whittlsea Ranges. The McDonalds Reds sit three points behind the opposition on the NPLV1 table in seventh spot.
“You’ve just got to adjust to what strengths you have available at the time,” Robinson said.
Although it cannot fall any lower this week, the Reds need to win to remain in touch with the top half of the table.
MONBULK RANGERS v EUREKA STRIKERS
THE bright lights await for the Ballarat Eureka Strikers when they head to Monbulk Rangers on Sunday, where they will play at night for just the second time this season.
Eureka will be hoping for a better result than the dour nil all draw from the round one encounter between these two sides.
The Ballarat Eureka Strikers have put on a scoring clinic since then, scoring 26 goals in eight games. They have named an unchanged side this week.
SEBASTOPOL VIKINGS VIKINGS v TRUGANINA HORNETS/ MELTON PHOENIX v SEBASTOPOLO WOMEN'S VIKINGS
DEFENCE will be the focus for Sebastopol Vikings after letting six goals in last week.
The Vikings will play host to eighth-placed Truganina Hornets and will be desperate to break its FFV state league four winless streak that has almost lasted a month.
Sebastopol was too good for the Hornets in the reverse fixture in round two, securing a 2-1 victory in March.
A slight form slump has them in danger of losing touch with the top half of the ladder, however, currently sitting eight points behind ladder leader Point Cook.
Meanwhile, the Vikings women’s side will go in as near unbackable favourites against Melton Phoenix.
They sit undefeated at the top of the ladder in the FFV women’s state league four competition.