HISTORY CALLING FOR HOT STRIKERS

THE Devonport Strikers will be chasing history on Wednesday night when they take on the Wellington Phoenix in the Australia Cup round of 32.

The game will be played at Devonport’s Valley Road, marking the first time an A League club has visited Tasmania as part of the competition.

“For our players to play against an A League team at home, it’s maybe one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,” Devonport president Drew Smith said.

The Strikers are hoping to draw a crowd of 3000-5000, with football fans from around the state expected to make the trip to the northwest coast. “We see ourselves as not only representing Devonport and the region, but also Tasmania at this level,” Smith said.

Devonport enters the clash in excellent form, undefeated in its last 18 games, and it’s are the only Tasmanian club to advance past the Australia Cup round of 32 in the competition’s history.

Strikers coach Tom Ballantyne says they will have a full-strength squad to choose from tomorrow night, but he is still realistic as they prepare to take on last season’s A League finalists.

“We’ll give it our best shot – what that looks like, who knows, but we’ll 100 per cent give it our best shot,” Ballantyne said.

With the A League currently in its offseason phase, Ballantyne says there is an element of the unknown about the Phoenix and how they will line up.

“We’re not 100 per cent sure what to expect … what team they’re going to play, we’re very unsure about that, whether they roll out a full strength side or a mixture of kids,” he said.

Wellington have brought a strong squad to Tasmania, with newly signed stars Bozhidar Kraev and Kosta Barbarouses both a chance to play.

“Any chance you get to play an opposition where you really test yourself and really be challenged is always great,” Ballantyne said.

While a win would rank among the greatest “cupsets” in Australian football, Ballantyne has a simpler goal in mind. “What I want is for the players to take this moment and run with it, for them to come off feeling proud,” Ballantyne said.