LEETON-Whitton coach David Meline has played down the Crows’ minor premiership chances ahead of Saturday's top of the table blockbuster.
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The Crows will host ladder leaders Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at Leeton Showground on Saturday in the biggest game of the Riverina League season to date.
A Goannas victory would put them two games clear on top of the ladder and place one hand firmly on the minor premiership.
A win to the Crows would put them on level pegging with seven rounds to play.
Leeton-Whitton won just three games last season and coach David Meline will have no talk of top spot ahead of the clash with MCUE.
“I’m certainly not going to place expectation or pressure on the group any higher, we’ve come from a long way down,” Meline said.
“We’ve only played one game into the second round, I think it’s fair enough we’ve got our sights on finals but I’m certainly not at the stage where we’re going to shoot for the top.”
Leeton-Whitton will have a full list to choose from on Saturday, while the Goannas are set to be boosted by the return of Mitch Daniher into the team that belted Collingullie-Glenfield Park by 60 points last week.
The Crows had a tough four-point win over Griffith but are now looking forward to the next task.
“They’re certainly looking forward to the challenge,” Meline said.
“We’re still only young though and still have a lot to learn.
“We’re certainly not getting ahead of ourselves.”
The top of the table showdown will see arguably the two best midfields in the competition go head-to-head.
The Crows have been led by captain Bryce O’Garey, returning junior Toby Conroy, Ben Curley and Brad Boots, while MCUE bat deep with Daniher, Col Sanbrook, Harry Collins, Stace Creasy and Jack Killalea.
Meline believes both teams have similar features.
“They’re pretty solid across the park,” he said.
“They’re similar to us in that they haven’t had anyone kicking bags, they’ve had an even spread of goalkickers.
“We can’t focus on any one individual.”
MCUE were comfortable 22-point winners over Leeton-Whitton in round two in a low-scoring affair in wet conditions at Mangoplah Sportsground.
Both teams have only lost one game since with the Crows searching for their fifth straight win this weekend.
The Goannas are flying with six straight wins, five of which have been by 40 points or more.
