With the pitch at St Georges Reserve in poor condition, Sebastopol Vikings will host Saturday’s all-important clash with North Melbourne Athletic at Ballarat’s premier soccer venue.
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Vikings coach Corey Smith said he was pleased to play the fixture at Morshead Park for what is a huge encounter for both sides.
The Vikings are top of the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league four west table, one point clear of North Melbourne.
Smith said playing at Morshead Park was good for the game.
“The best football side should win playing on Morshead because it takes away factors such as a boggy pitch or any of those factors that can take away from a good game,” Smith said.
“North Melbourne was very keen to play there as well.”
The home team will be full of confidence heading into this game having beaten the visitors 6-2 when the sides last met back in May.
“I’d be very surprised if that happened again,” Smith said.
“We are expecting a tough match on Saturday. We expect them to come out and try to prove that that (last result) was an anomaly.”
Smith said he would tackle North Melbourne with the same squad as the one that drew 2-2 with Point Cook last weekend.
The draw was only salvaged through a last-gasp goal from Vikings goal-keeper Michael Henry.
This secured Sebastopol a vital point from the away clash and leaves the side narrowly clear at the summit with three games to play in 2017.