Wangaratta coach Luke Morgan says he won't play games with captain Michael Newton's fitness heading into finals.
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Newton hasn't played since suffering a displaced sternum and bruised ribs against Myrtleford on August 3.
"He's recovering well, he did the running today (Saturday), we'll see how he trains this week," Morgan said.
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The Pies face Albury in Saturday's qualifying final at Corowa's John Foord Oval.
Given it's not sudden death, some clubs would be tempted to rest their star goalkicker, but Morgan isn't interested.
"We're very simple with that approach, if he's fit enough, he plays, if he's not, he doesn't," he said.
We're very simple with that approach, if he's fit enough, he plays, if he's not, he doesn't.
- Pies' coach Luke Morgan on Michael Newton
The Pies' Williamstown VFL-listed player Daniel Sharrock is the other injury concern after a knee reconstruction last year.
"He picked up some swelling against Myrtleford earlier this month, so he's missed four weeks now," Morgan said.
"It's improving, he trained fully with Williamstown on Thursday night, so we expect him to be up for selection this week."
Wangaratta also rested defenders Mat Grossman, Mark Anderson and Ben Douthie for Saturday's dead rubber clash with Wodonga and all three will return, leaving Newton as the only possible player missing from the top 21.
Meanwhile, Albury will be hoping long-term injured players Alex Jones and Kieran Ellis return for finals.
Jones hasn't played with a knee problem since July 20, while Ellis injured his hamstring against Wangaratta Rovers on June 22, but they didn't suffer any serious injuries against Myrtleford.
"Apart from Joel's (Joel Mackie) nose, which is wiped all over his face," co-coach Tom McGrath said.
Meanwhile, Lavington's John Hunt, who equalled the league's games record of 416 on Saturday, injured his shoulder, while Luke Garland went off with a hamstring scare.