WAGGA City Wanderers coach Michael Babic says their lopsided home and away draw is less than ideal, conceding their finals hopes will be "almost mission impossible" if they can't bank points from early home games.
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After opening their National Premier League Two campaign with three games at Gissing Oval, four of their last five games are away from home.
They kick off with a tough assignment against defending champions ANU on Saturday, July 18.
"There's a couple of things in there (draw) I don't like, three at home to start and only one of last five here is a pretty tough task," he said.
"There's two teams we're playing back-to-back away in (Canberra) White Eagles and O'Connor, which is a scenario I was hoping to avoid.
"They're two teams that will be right up the top of the table and to have them back to back away is not really a fortnight I'm looking forward to, but you have to play everyone."
Babic said he if the team is to receive a run of home games, he would prefer it to be in the back end of the season as the club chases its maiden finals appearance.
"While it gives us a good opportunity to start well, it makes the finish really hard," he said.
"Going into finals momentum is really important and if we do make it, we want some going into it. With the draw we have it could be a difficult proposition.
"If you don't get something out of the first three (games) it becomes almost mission impossible. I figure we have to try and win five of the eight games to make finals."
The league will be contested by nine teams this year after Goulburn-based side Southern Tablelands elected not to take part.
"We're just ready to go. I'm going to try and tee up a trial game next week if we can make it happen," Babic said.
"I'd hoping it will be here, I'm going to try and get one of the Albury teams up."
First grade kicks off at 3pm next Saturday, after the under-23s at 12.45pm, with the women's side on a bye.
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