WAGGA City Wanderers defender Kyle Yeates believes a win on the road on Sunday could light the fire for a late finals charge.
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The Wanderers have been in good form over the past month, downing Brindabella 1-0, then suffering honourable defeats to the two top teams.
The Wanderers will get a good indication of how far they have come when they take on Yoogali SC in Griffith on Sunday.
Yoogali trounced the Wanderers 5-0 in Wagga earlier this year but Yeates is confident the team is in a much better place heading into the return bout at EW Moore Oval.
"I think we can go over there and win," Yeates said.
"We've picked up our performances over the last few weeks.
"If we were able to go over there and win it puts us in with a chance to make a late run for finals.
"We were in a bit of a rough patch the last time we played them, they got one or two goals and then it got away from us.
"This time I think we're a really good chance."
Yeates has been one of the star pupils of the Wanderers under 23s team in recent years, captaining them to the title last season.
He has regularly been given a taste in first grade but the 21-year-old has cemented a starting spot as a central defender this season under new coach Dave Leonard.
Yeates, Football Wagga's development officer, has enjoyed stepping up to the top grade.
"I've been in and out for four years so I'm used to it now but playing at that higher level has been good," he said.
"Obviously we've got a really young squad so it's still very similar to under 23s, I'm still one of the senior players but playing at the higher level, I'm really enjoying it."
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It was a tough start to the year for the Wanderers but the team is beginning to find their feet now, approaching the half-way mark of the season.
The Wanderers are sixth and believe their best football is in front of them.
"Definitely, we're starting to play some really good football it's just that the results haven't quite been there," he said.
"We've lost 3-2 and 3-1 against the first and second teams, which is alright."
The Wanderers are set to be without Alvaro Kelechi due to suspension, while Jake Ploenges is in doubt due to injury.
The Wanderers' women play Gungahlin in Canberra on Sunday.
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