HENWOOD Park coach Scott Elphick is looking forward to taking on his old club in Sunday's top of the table showdown with Tolland at Rawlings Park.
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Elphick moved to the region last year and was appointed Tolland's coaching director and coach of the Wolves' under 16 team.
But a chat with Henwood Park president Ryan Smith led to a mid-season switch to the Hawks. He took over the club's reserve grade team and at season's end, was appointed Henwood Park's head coach.
Tolland's 7-0 win over South Wagga last Sunday, combined with Henwood Park's 1-1 draw with Wagga United saw the Wolves leapfrog the Hawks into top spot on the ladder.
So the stakes are high for the grudge match against Tolland on Sunday.
"It's going to be a tough game," Elphick said.
"I was coaching the 16s and the coaching director of Tolland as well but had a talk to Ryan and had some better options, my own team to coach at Henwood Park so I made the move.
"There will be some out there to prove a point against me, I guess. I think Henwood and Tolland are always a rival match anyway, from what I've heard. They've both got points to prove.
"We hit training pretty hard on Tuesday after the United game and gave the guys a bit more direction. I said we can't play that style of footy again otherwise Tolland will chew us up."
Elphick hasn't watched Tolland this year but did take an opportunity to watch them train.
"I've watched one of their training sessions. One Tuesday night we had off because the rain, I went and did the rounds and had a look at what United were doing and what Tolland were doing," he said.
"Tolland are quick, very quick. Especially Jaiden Watson and (Matt) Kelly, we'll have to watch those guys.
"They'll be quick and knock the ball around but we'll just play to our game, we'll shut it down and hold possession and don't turn it over like we did against United and we'll be right.
"At the end of the day it will be a good game."
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