Little between Albury City and Boomers ahead of quarter-final

The fourth and fifth-placed teams in this year's league season will collide in the AWFA cup quarter-finals at Jelbart Park on Sunday.

As luck would have it, the clash will be played on Albury City's home pitch, with the venues for each sudden death showdown predetermined by the league before ladder positions were finalised.

But it won't faze Boomers in the slightest, according to assistant coach Wayne Fraser.

"We've played a lot of football at Jelbart Park because a lot of finals are played there," Fraser said.

"It's a little bit of a home ground advantage, but we've each beaten each other at our grounds.

"I don't think it really plays into it this weekend to be honest.

"Every match we've played with them has been pretty tight, there's never any blowouts and I don't expect it will be any different."

ALSO IN SPORT:

Boomers are sweating on the fitness of veteran Adam Griffths and Dylan Nhansana to shore up what's been a makeshift back line for the majority of the season, primarily due to injury.

"They trained okay on Tuesday night, tonight (Thursday night) will be the telling thing, particularly with 'Griffo'. He's a little bit older now and we need to be a bit more careful with him," Fraser added.

"Being a final, if he's able to play, he will play."

Albury City captain Campbell Taylor agreed anything can happen on the day in the knockout format.

A slight cause for concern for City is their lack of goals heading into finals, having found the back of the net just three times in the past month.

"Losing Issac Read (to college in the US) was a huge impact in our strikers and it has shown in the results and scorelines," Taylor said.

"It's something we'll work on, but there's still very capable strikers up there."

Having been in contention for the league title midway through the campaign, Taylor admitted there would be disappointed faces if City were to bow out in the opening round of the cup competition on Sunday.

"The goal is to go all the way, but it's just about focusing on the day and worrying about the week after that," he said.

League champions Wangaratta take on eighth-placed Melrose, the only side to have beaten them this season, also at Jelbart Park.

Runners-up Myrtleford head to Alexandra Park to meet Twin City (seventh), while Albury United (third) clash with Cobram (sixth) at Melrose Park.

The four quarter-finals all kick-off at 3pm.