Wanderers defence standing up in hot start to NPL campaign

The Wanderers embark on their first road trip of the season against O'Connor on Saturday with seven points from their first three games, including back-to-back clean sheets.

Collecting another three points in Canberra, against a team yet to win this season, would set them up well for a shot at a maiden finals campaign.

Goalkeeper Fry only kept one clean sheet all season last year, but is reaping the benefits of the improved organisation of his defence.

'I'm not surprised (with the good start), Babs (new coach Michael Babic) has done some great stuff and in particular with the back line," Fry said.

"The work we've done on that, it's nice to see that come to fruition with a couple of clean sheets in a row. I'm not surprised just due to the sheer work we've put into it.

"We've had Dylan Berkrey come in there who's been nothing short of sensational, while Sam Jones, Shaun Moffat and Will Shuttlesworth have been excellent."

O'Connor is yet to win a game this season, but Fry believes that only makes them more dangerous.

"They strengthened pretty well over the off season so I expect them to be a good team," he said.

"There's certainly no danger of us taking this game lightly at all, we're coming into this match with our eyes open."

In this weekend's Pascoe Cup fixtures, Hanwood will make their shortest road trip of the season when they head to Leeton.

Hanwood were down to play Tumut last weekend before Football Wagga made the decision to call off the round and coach Anthony Agresta would like to see the round played at some point.

"The way I see it is that if they don't the team that had the bye last week will end up with an extra game," he said.

"To sort of even it up they would sort of have to at playing it somewhere down the track.

"I know they did allow for those couple of extra rounds after we have played everyone once where they were going to split us up so whether they squeeze it in there (I'm not sure)."

While not playing last weekend was a slight inconvenience, Agresta also took positives from the decision.

"I think Joe Catanzariti was probably going to be unavailable and it gave Giggles (Anthony Agresta) an extra week," he said.

"He did train on Thursday and got through that and was on track, but I suppose it gave him a bit more extra time.

"Also with the shortened pre-season it probably wasn't a bad thing to have a week off to freshen up."

Looking ahead to this weekend's match, Hanwood knows picking up points will be vital with their upcoming bye.

Agresta knows it is going to be a tough test, but they will head in with an almost full-strength line-up without the services of Daniel Rogato due to a hamstring injury.

"They have been going reasonably well I think they have only had the one loss, and that was to Henwood Park, and they are flying at the moment as well," he said.

"We know that we are going to have to be at our very best to come away with the result. Their defence has always been pretty tight, and they have some good and busy midfielders, and upfront with the two Gardner boys and young Raso floating in behind, we saw what he could do last year against us.

"As a team, we are going to have to work really hard, and I don't think there is going to be much in it. It will come down to who is able to take their chances."

Leeton and Hanwood have had a long rivalry, with Agresta hoping his side can reclaim bragging rights.

"Going back years we have always had a good rivalry with Leeton and it always adds a bit of spice," he said.

"There is nothing malicious, it's just two teams who are very tribal with their areas and towns. At the moment they have got it (bragging rights), they beat us on our home deck last year so will look to get it back this weekend."

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