Soccer
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"TOLLAND might have awakened a beast."
The ominous warning has been issued to Football Wagga's Pascoe Cup contenders from current frontrunner Wagga United a week out from soccer finals.
Crows coach Travis Weir yesterday described his team's state as "fierce" as the club hunts down a second consecutive premiership.
He claims a switch has been flicked by last week's 2-1 loss to old rival Tolland.
United had won 15 games on the trot before Sunday's defeat.
Weir says rather than be knocked backwards by the result, his players have stepped it up a gear at training during the week.
"The response from the guys at training was scary," Weir said.
"On Tuesday I just sat back and watched them go.
"I sat the boys down on Tuesday and had a chat, explained to them that nothing is gifted to us in this competition.
"We probably needed that loss to be honest.
"We're a very young team and we might have been getting ahead of ourselves...we needed reminding that we're not invincible.
"At training it was a different team.
"Tolland might have done us a favour."
Weir's comments should send a shiver through the other Pascoe Cup contenders.
United has been the form team of the competition all year and will enter the finals series as favourite to win the crown.
Firstly, though, the Crows will be looking to sure up the minor premiership when they travel to Junee tomorrow for the last round of the new split-system draw.
They currently hold a two-point advantage on top of the ladder but a loss to the Jaguars could see them tumble down to second spot.
Tolland is nipping at United's heals.
Weir says while the minor premiership would be the cherry on top of a successful season, his players are well aware there is bigger fish to fry.
"It would be nice for the club to get the minor premiership I suppose," he said.
"But the boys won't be too disheartened if we don't.
"The big game is Tolland next week.
"We really want to focus on beating Tolland next week and booking an early spot in the grand final."
United will make the trip to Junee with a severely undermanned line-up.
Club captain Chris McKenzie and Daniel Lawrence will both miss the game through suspension, while Eugene Rauber and Daniel Graham are unavailable to play.
Teenage defender Jacob Sadleir-Knight and young keeper Liam Dedini will both sit the game out to rest injuries.
Sadleir-Knight is resting a minor calf injury, while Dedini is still recovering from copping a boot to the mouth during last week's clash.
Weir expects to field a full-strength team for next week's semi final.