THE Murray Bushrangers will be out to reverse last year’s shattering qualifying final loss to the Dandenong Stingrays when they clash in Melbourne on Sunday.
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After losing the corresponding match by six points, coach Leon Higgins is eager to turn the tables and advance to the preliminary final.
“We have had some fantastic battles with Dandenong,” Higgins said.
“Last year’s final was close and this year we have had two tight games as well.
“We are really evenly matched.
“We probably bring some height into our side since we last played and they have an extra midfielder.
“We have really set ourselves to win this one as our ideal path isn’t to be on the road for three or four weeks in a row.”
Only 11 points have separated the teams in their last three outings including a four-point victory to the Bushrangers in round seven this season followed by a one-point loss to the Stingrays in round 16.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks facing the Bushrangers is centre half-forward Josh Battle.
The academy player has kicked 16 goals in six matches and could be picked up by in-form defender Ryan Garthwaite.
“We have a couple of players who we think we could match up on Battle,” Higgins said.
“Ryan is in really good form but he’s a very good intercept marker as well and we may want to use him more in that role.”
The Bushrangers have added Albury pair Lachie Tiziani and Max Lynch and Wodonga forward Trent McMullan to their line-up with CDHBU’s Matt Walker, Barooga’s Daniel Johnston and Wangaratta’s Daniel Sharrock dropping out.
Mooroopna’s Jy Simpkin is the only unavailable player after he broke his leg playing school football early in the season.
Higgins believes a testing late-season draw will hold his side in good stead during the finals series.
“We feel we have had a solid preparation with tough games against fellow finalists in recent weeks,” he said.
“While we haven’t got over the line ,we are confident that our best is good enough.
“We need to make sure we have the courage and workrate to take the game on, use the corridor and provide our forward half with opportunities to have an impact.”
In the other qualifying final, Geelong take on North Ballarat Rebels at Box Hill on Saturday.
Sunday’s match starts at 2pm.
