Kicking off with qualifier

MAREEBA will go charging into 2018 with two new signings and a host of young guns starting with much more than your average preseason match.

The Bulls take on Marlin Coast in one of three FFA Cup qualifiers across the region tonight as community clubs battle for the right to eventually face NPL club Cairns FC.

Leichhardt, Douglas United, Southside Comets, JCU Strikers, Innisfail United and Edge Hill will also contest the sudden-death ties as Stratford wait to see who their opponent will be in the next round.

Mareeba took on NPL club FNQ Heat last year and new co-coach Angelo Tatti said the squad had the potential to do the same again this year if they converted their strong internal trial form to the pitch.

“We’ve been working really hard for the past few months and we’ve got some new faces in our team,” he said.

“It will be great to see the boys get on the field and get some pay-off for the work they’ve been putting in.

“Hopefully we’ll have a lot of fans there to egg us on.”

Tonight’s FFA Cup match will be the first for new recruits Justin Sabbadin and Darcy McCormack, the latter admitting to mixed emotions about the switch from Innisfail United.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who twice sunk the Bulls with late goals in matches last year, is a teacher’s aide in Mareeba.

“It will be good to see where other teams are at because we haven’t played any preseason games yet,” McCormack said of facing the 2017 grand finalists.

“I seem to play all right up here so hopefully I can keep that going for Mareeba.”

The Bulls are hopeful 2017 skipper Alex Plowman, striker Steven Cater and injured Jason Haydon will return in time for the start of the season in April.

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