South Hobart and Kingborough will take remarkably similar recent records into their do-or-die McDonald's NPL Tasmania Preliminary Final clash.
Both sides finished their regular season with four straight wins after shock round-14 defeats to NPL newcomers and have since lost to Devonport in the finals series.
However, the league champs and Lakoseljac Cup winners will be equally motivated by a second shot at the Strikers in next week’s Grand Final and the chance to cap impressive campaigns with a second trophy.
South will enjoy home advantage courtesy of winning the league and will retain that should they progress to the Grand Final. However, last week’s 3-0 Semi-Final loss will have coach Pete Edwards on guard against a straight-sets finals exit.
“I think this is going to be a cracker of a game because we know it's all at stake now if you want to get into that final spot,” he said.
“Against Devonport, we weren't much of the team that we know we could be and we're trying to turn that around this weekend to play what will be an incredibly tough game against Kingborough. We've had many good battles already, and I look forward to another one.
“Every chance of silverware is massive for the club and for the players, so the incentive is clear.”
Lions comfortably saw off Elimination Final winners Launceston City last week but coach Jon Fenech knows from his Lakoseljac Cup semi-final penalty shootout win over South how closely matched these sides are.
“The record going into this doesn't really matter. It's about what happens on the day,” he said.
“Semi-finals are all about the occasion and anything can happen in one game of football. I think there's not a lot between all three teams that are in this.
“South are the champions. We're going to their home ground. They've been exceptional for the last two years since I've been playing against them. It's not going to be an easy task for us.
“The cup final, the semi-final as well, and the Melbourne Victory game were huge, but this is just as big.”
Seventh hosts third in the McDonald's Women's Super League, as Launceston City welcome South Hobart to Prospect Park.
City could still finish as high as fifth and captain Chelsea Wing said last year’s Women's Northern Championship winners had drawn plenty from a maiden Statewide campaign.
“This year was about learning,” she said. “It was always finding the balance between development and performance.
“I think what's been really key for us this season was that we're here to build that foundation for this team to be a winning side in years to come. So, still being competitive but being realistic in our expectations and our goals so we're able to achieve them.”
Although this is the penultimate round of the WSL, both teams have three fixtures remaining with their postponed round-13 clash rescheduled for September 12 at KGV. South comfortably won their only previous meeting 6-0 but, after three consecutive defeats, coach James Symmons is well aware that Kingborough could still pinch third spot.
“We want third,” he said. “I think anything less than that, we'd be very disappointed with. Obviously, we had our eyes on second, but that's gone. So we want to lock in third.
“With the injuries that we've had, I think resilience-wise, the players have been fantastic and I think third, if we can lock that in, is a respectable finish for us this season.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania Preliminary Final
Saturday, August 29
2pm South Hobart v Kingborough, D’Arcy Street
McDonald's Women's Super League, Round 20
Saturday, August 29
2.30pm Riverside Olympic v Taroona, Windsor Park
2.30pm Kingborough v Glenorchy, Lightwood Park Kitchen Centre Park
2.30pm Launceston United v Devonport, Birch Avenue Kemlec Park
4.45pm Launceston City v South Hobart, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park