Warriors to take care of business and hope for upset

NORTH Geelong’s return to the top NPL competition rests on two matches this weekend.

In order to reach the promotion playoff spot, the Warriors must overcome secondbottom Ballarat City at home today and then hope Brunswick upsets St Albans.

Despite the club saying its young squad may not be ready for top-flight football next year given the turnover of players, coach James Coutts wants his team prepared to face Ballarat and let the rest play out.

“Everyone knows the situation, but we can only control what we control,” Coutts said.

“I think the lads will go out with the mindset that we need to make sure we take care of ourselves first and not thinking too much other than that.”

The equation was similar last weekend and Coutts revealed he let his players know the St Albans score during the halftime break as motivation, something he will do again if the situation requires.

North’s ball movement was littered with speed and accuracy against Werribee once it picked the right moment to make the decisive pass.

Coutts said it was some of the best offensive work he had seen since his arrival at the club.

“At the end of the day the boys have really stepped up another level and they’ve really bought into the ideas that I’ve asked of them and I’m really happy with where they have been,” he said.

“We aren’t going to be fearful of anyone, the boys are very confident and in a good vein of form and we just want to continue that and see where it takes us.”

Captain Michael Anderson will return from suspension but may have to come on as a substitute given the chemistry between the starting midfielders Ryan Oppermann and Coutts.

Striker Darius Madison will also be looking to get back on the score sheet after an indifferent few weeks with suspension and luckless finishing, but still remains third on league goal scoring tally with 12 goals.