South Hobart should continue on top of Premier League ladder

Photos (Top to Bottom): Olympia captain Hugh Richardson (left) will be missing against South Hobart; Eagles' Adam McKeown (left) will test the Taroona defence; Glenorchy Knights will expect goals from Amadu Koroma against the Lions (Koroma featured in a full-page interview in the Melbourne paper "Goal Weekly" this week [PlessPix]

Forestry Tasmania Southern Premier League leaders South Hobart will be without central defender Hugh Ludford when they host bottom-side Olympia Warriors at South Hobart on Saturday.

Ludford is unavailable, which means Matthew Brown is likely to step into the breach.

David Abbott will need to pass a fitness test before being considered for selection.

South Hobart have had three or four Korean players training with them this week, including an excellent central defender.

Coach Ken Morton, whose ambition for the club seem to stretch beyond the Tasmanian Premier League, hopes to have at least two Koreans cleared, registered and ready for selection in the next couple of weeks.

Morton will treat Olympia with respect, but stick to his own game plan.

Olympia improved last weekend when they drew 2-2 with New Town Eagles, but the task on Saturday seems beyond them on current form.

And, they have eight players missing, which has coach Chris Hey devastated.

Hugh Richardson, Kosta Grillas, Jayden Hey, Nick Meredith, Chris Kumpulainen, Mark Wakefield, Adam Hedge and Warren Awaru are all out injured or unavailable.

The really bad news is that Grillas is out for up to a month with a hamstring injury and Hey will miss six weeks because of a broken toe.

They still have a respectable squad, however, and may prove stubborn opponents.

Olympia's squad is: Nester, McCallum, Labski, Percy, Wiggins, Powell, Mason, Phillips, Cronk, Kunwar, Fletcher, Farrugia, Howell, Matthew Hedge, Emmanuel Tsakiris.

This squad could still do damage and South Hobart will need to be wary. You know what they say about a wounded bull.

New Town Eagles, who are level on one point with Olympia at the foot of the ladder, welcome Taroona to Clare Street on Saturday.

Eagles will have Steve Louden back in defence, but Chris Wass is a doubtful starter because of injury.

Eagles coach George Krambousanos said that Taroona had acquitted themselves well in the top flight so far, but the larger Clare Street ground would test the visitors.

Taroona coach, Ben Horgan, said: “No doubt George will have them well prepared for this game, so it will be a tough one, but it is a game we need to win to consolidate our solid start to the season.

“I don’t expect to make any changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s draw with Clarence.”

Glenorchy Knights travel to Lightwood Park on Saturday to take on Glenorchy Knights in what should be a close match.

The Lions will be without central-defender Isaac Lucas, who suffered cracked ribs in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tilford Zebras.

Lions striker Greg Freeman has a corked thigh and must pass a fitness test before he plays, while midfielder Marcello Marchioli also pulled up sore but should be fit to play.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge of the Knights,” said Kingborough coach, Geoff Freeman. “It’s always a tough game.”

Tilford Zebras host Clarence United at KGV Park on Friday night.