TWIN CITY says it can still win Sunday’s match against Albury City, even without star midfielder Josh Zito.
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In a huge blow, Zito will miss the round 21 match at Kelly Park after accumulating too many yellow cards.
It’s believed Cayne Wilhelm is also walking the yellow card tightrope on the eve of the cup finals.
We feel at the moment we can beat any top four team.
- Harry Wilhelm
“We’ll miss Josh, but we’ve won games without him, we beat Wangaratta without him,” Wanderers coach Harry Wilhelm said.
“He gives you that drive and I think that’s why he gets so many yellows.
“He’s very clever and it takes the pressure off Jason Gilbert and Cayne.”
Twin City is gridlocked mid-table, but is one of the AWFA’s form teams.
The sixth-placed Wanderers are aiming for their fourth straight win, and boast recent victories against Wangaratta and Diamonds.
Like most clubs, the championship is out of reach for Twin City, so its attention is focused on building momentum for the cup finals.
“Ideally we’d love to be higher but we are placed well,” Wilhelm said.
“This result doesn’t mean much to us because we can’t go up or down.
“We don’t care what position they’re in, we feel at the moment we can beat any top four team.”
City has proven many doubters wrong in 2015 to sit in fifth spot, just two wins behind top-placed Boomers with two rounds remaining.
And Wilhelm is wary of a side that dismantled Myrtleford 3-0 last weekend.
“To beat Myrtleford at Myrtleford is no easy task,” Wilhelm said.
“We’ve sat down last night and had a chat about it.
“They love playing the long ball … and Kelly Park is so big.”
After losing plenty of talent in the off-season, last year’s championship-winner Twin City has been rebuilding.
But Wilhelm likes what he sees.
“We’ve got some good young kids,” he said.
“Brad Coulston has really stepped up.
“He’s playing well at left back, and Tom Coulston - they’re not brothers - he plays at right back and he’s had some big jobs and done brilliantly.”
And then there’s Jason Gilbert.
Gilbert is returning to the form that won him the league best-and-fairest award in 2012.
“Jason’s been brilliant each week,” Wilhelm said.
“He’s just come in halfway through the season and he’s been getting better and better.
“Diamonds didn’t know how to handle him on the weekend.”
Elsewhere, Wangaratta hosts Myrtleford, Diamonds travel to Albury United, Hotspurs have Heart and Patties host Boomers.
