Nield promises a Shark attack

SOCCER: There is no room for negativity in the match plans being put together by Palm Beach coach Danny Nield (pictured) for the weekend joust with Merrimac.

A spot in the Gold Coast Premier League grand final is at stake when Nield’s Sharks tackle season champions Merrimac at the latter’s Tony Cecco Field on Sunday (3pm start).

It is the second leg of the qualifying home-andaway match-up and Palm Beach hold a commanding advantage after beating the Macs 4-0 at Mallawa Drive last weekend.

This means Merrimac have to beat the Sharks by a clear five goals on Sunday under competition rules where away goals count as double in the event of aggregate scores being level.

If Merrimac can win 4-0, scores would be level on aggregate and extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if needed.

But Nield has promised an all-out attack from Palm Beach. ‘‘We’re not going to sit back and defend and I’m confident we will score a goal again,’’ he said. ‘‘They’d have to beat us 6-1 and I don’t think that is going to happen.’’ The Sharks could be boosted by the return from injury of captain Nick Hulme, a player Nield describes as an absolute inspiration. At stake on Sunday is a place in the September 8 grand final, while the losers have to go into a preliminary final against the BurleighBroadbeach elimin

ator winner.