Stawell Mitre 10 Warriors finals campaign can take one of two roads tomorrow when it meets round 10 conqueror Warrack Eagles at Nhill.
The Warriors can either take the path of victory which would put them in a prime position to contest their second grand final in as many seasons or the path of the losers, who must resurrect their season without faltering once more.
Coach Dale Power is confident his team can take the path of the winners despite Warrack causing a boilover when the teams last met in round 10.
``They are probably one of the quicker and fitter teams so we are going to have to be mindful of that. We need to pick the right team to go up on to that ground and compete with them properly and try and win the areas we think we're stronger in.''
Power said not winning enough ball through the midfield was partly to blame for their shock loss earlier in the season.
``We didn't get enough supply down forward and they held us too, we were always under pressure so any delivery into the forward line wasn't good last time,'' he said.
``They were harder at it, they really dictated terms around the ground with fifty, fifty contests and the things we have been good at generally, they turned up and played better footy that day.''
While regaining the services of a number of players tomorrow, the Stawell line-up will be far from full strength.
Power expected skipper Ben Williamson to recover from a hamstring strain and pull on the boots tomorrow, while tall pair Joel Freeland and Bryce Homden should be fit after missing with the 'flu last weekend. Ball winner Simon Jones (hamstring) is rated as `hopeful' after training during the week.
However, the team is still at a loss with key player Brent Tuckey set to miss at least another week through injury as will Justin Thomas (shoulder) and Julian Carr (knee). The news is also quite bad for Damian McDonald with Power revealing the injury-plagued star is in doubt for the rest of the season.
McDonald is reported to be struggling with the same injured foot that he had surgery on prior to the 2008 season.
``He is very doubtful, his foot is just not coming up, it hasn't come up after the operation like we had hoped,'' Power said.
``He finds it really difficult to get it going, get it warm. It is pretty frustrating for Damian because he has put everything into this and tried his hardest to get back but it is not responding. He can't walk for days after a game.''
Nathan Holloway, who said he would play if needed following a severe knee injury, is not likely to take any part in the rest of the season along with Steve Jenkins and Jorah Margetson.
Victory tomorrow would set up the third 2007 grand final rematch of the season against Horsham in the second semi-final next Saturday, while defeat would see Warriors take on the winner of Sunday's elimination final between Ararat and Horsham Saints. Sunday's clash will be played at Dimboola.
Likely Stawell line-up
B: I Rathgeber, B Williamson, T Nicholson
HB: T Newton, N Thomas, D Thomas
C: J Duke, D Power, F Greene
HF: J Delahunty, A Clayton, S Nicholson
F: S Field, S Anyon, T Leslie
R: B Homden, B Scott, P Hanns
Int (from): G Grundler, J Freeland, O Adam, M Batsiua, D Coventry, J Davis, J Hart, B Pateman, S Jones, J Thomas
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