SPORT Heat hope to make best of dream draw

THE FNQ Heat will have the perfect opportunity to build a solid platform throughout the first half of next season after being handed a dream draw.

The Heat’s run includes six games at Barlow Park in the opening 10 rounds of the 2016 NPL Queensland competition.

Between rounds two and nine the Heat host a number of premiership contenders in Cairns, giving Tim Campbell’s side an opportunity to gain a top four spot by the time the competition turns the corner on May 28.

“We’ve been given a pretty good draw so now it’s up to the players to capitalise on that,” Campbell said.

“Among others we take on the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay and Brisbane Strikers over the first few rounds of our campaign so we really need to make sure we put in good home performances against those types of high-quality opponents.”

Campbell said next year’s Heat squad continued to take shape.

“I’ve identified the 20 players I intend offering contracts to for next season following the completion of our trials,” he said.

“We’ll continue making approaches to these players over the coming weeks.

“At present I’m happy to say we’ll definitely have Crios O’Hare, Josh Pin, Jamie Gosling, and (new recruit) Luke Paron all playing with us next year.”

The Heat start their preseason on January 7 with the squad’s first trial expected to be played later the same month against a local club side.