Moerewa Tigers are busy readying Simson Park for their invited guests tomorrow but after welcoming Takahiwai Warriors, they plan to send them home without points on principle, after their first round loss.
"Takahiwai this weekend is a huge game for us because we owe them paybacks for beating us in the
first round and that's all the motivation we need," manager James Wilcox said.
He said the side was ill-prepared for their opening round 10-26 defeat by the Warriors but promised things would be a lot closer tomorrow. A win in the encounter is vital for Moerewa, with Northland clubs jockeying for position for the fast approaching playoffs.
Moerewa have just one away fixture - up the road against Ngawha Saints - in the final six weeks of competition, giving them a great platform to base their title defence on.
They also have the bye up their sleeve next week but Wilcox said their schedule was due to improve after a hard slog in the first round.
"We were travelling every week in the first round, it was pretty hard-out, we just had our first home game a couple of weeks ago," he laughed.
The curtain-raiser for the big game is the Northland under-16 club final between Kaitaia Legends and Hikurangi Stags, which kicks off at 12.30pm.
In other Whangarei and District League matches Hikurangi host Marist at Tikipunga Park with a win needed to kick-start their remote playoffs aspirations.
Bay Slayers travel to Ngawha Prison to play the Saints tomorrow hoping for another win after dismantling competition leaders Portland at home last week. The Slayers can't lose a game if they want to make the playoffs.
Portland coach Sam TeNamu has worked hard at training this week to get his team concentrating on the Northern Wairoa Bulls, their guests this week. Northern Wairoa are one of the most unpredictable teams in the league and will be a tough proposition for Portland.
