Marrar assistant coach Cal Gardner expects to be fit to return for Saturday’s Farrer League blockbuster against North Wagga.
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The Farrer League minor premiership will be up for grabs to the winner of the Bombers and Saints’ final round fixture at Langtry Oval.
The Bombers hope to welcome back a number of key players for the clash, including Gardner, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury.
Gardner expects to return against the Saints.
“Yeah I’ve just got to get through training on Thursday and I should be sweet,” Gardner said.
“Obviously having a few weeks off at this time of year is pretty frustrating so I’m keen to get back into it.”
Gardner could be joined by Brad Langtry, Jackson Moye, Curtis Allen, Fred Sleeth, Tyler Cunningham and Jeremy Rowe as inclusions into the Marrar team for the final round showdown.
Bombers ruckman Matt Parks is expected to return from injury for Marrar’s first final.
Gardner believes the high-stakes meeting with North Wagga is a great way to enter finals.
“I reckon it’s the perfect way to go into finals,” he said.
“It’s really the finals series starting early for us, it’s a must-win game to get top spot.
“A win is fairly important with the week off to freshen the bodies up.”
Both teams have only lost one game for the season.
The Saints defeated the Bombers by 47 points at McPherson Oval in June, one of 12 straight games North Wagga have won.
That was the only game the Bombers have lost for the year, beating every other Farrer League club on two occasions.
Gardner concedes topping the Saints is going to be an almighty challenge.
“They played really well against us last time and all year they have proven they are the team to beat so we’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
“I think we can match it with them, if we play our best footy. They play a really quick style of footy so we’ll have to see on Saturday.”
North Wagga also expect to welcome back assistant coach Lachie Steward and Josh Thompson from injury for Saturday.
The winner of Saturday’s game will get the following week off and move straight through to the second semi-final.
The loser will face Temora in the qualifying final at Robertson Oval on Saturday week.
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