Second-round of Division One Summer Cup will start to sort the teams

Beachside and New Town Eagles, the two top sides in Group A of the Division One Summer Cup competition, clash at Olinda Grove on Saturday at 5.30pm in a game which could decide one finalist.

Both sides have three points after one round of matches and the side that wins will have one foot in the final.

John Holliday, Bob Hadfield, and Steve Louden are unavailable for Eagles, but Adam Jones and Kim Wiggins return.

“It’s good to have a few experienced guys back this week as this squad has about as much depth as a Mills And Boon novel,” said Eagles coach, Marty Nidorfer.

“Beachside will be tough, as we have experienced in the past, so training this week has concentrated on one-touch play and rapid movement.

“We will miss Bob Hadfield, who continually performs. He’s a young man with an old head.”

Beachside is brimming with talent, however, and should be a little too good for Eagles.

Nelson and Taroona, the top teams in Group B, clash at 1pm and, again, the winner is almost assured of a place in the final.

Paul Gazzignato and Rowan Sakul are doubtful for Nelson, while Tristian Cripps is out because of an ankle injury.

Joe Van Derv Slink and Robert Brook will make their debuts, while Tom Gordon retains his place in the side.

“We haven't played Taroona for a while because they disappeared off to Premier League to avoid playing us,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.

“In any case, while this is Summer Cup and neither club will have its strongest squad, it will be interesting for us to see where we are in comparison to them at this stage of the season.”

Taroona are active in both the southern and northern pre-season competitions but are doing very well in both.

“We have another busy weekend, with a Summer Cup game against Nelson on Saturday and Launceston City on Sunday in the Steve Hudson Cup,” said Tarooan coach, Ben Horgan.

“I was really happy with the commitment shown against Metro last weekend and it was great to get a win.

“Our actual performance showed up some of the things we still need to work on, but we knew that would be the case.

“We weren’t able to keep a lot of possession and, as a result, we didn’t create too many chances, but on the positive side, we were very resilient defensively once we settled and the longer the game went the less I thought we looked like conceding.

“The form of Duncan Carey and Dan Palmer was also encouraging as they have both missed a fair bit of pre-season, and they will be better for the run.

“Sam Johnson was outstanding in defence and it was great to see him score the winner after he saved us by clearing a ball off our goal line in the first half.

“The team will be strengthened in midfield with last season’s best-and-fairest winner Jack Elliott included, but we will save Sam for the Steve Hudson Cup game on Sunday and, hopefully, Lucas Wyatt will be fit to take his place.

“We will also look at giving 16-year-old winger Liam McGuinness a debut as he has been really impressive over the pre-season and he will add some real pace out wide."

In other games, Hobart United, who have lost more players to Hobart Olympic during the week, face DOSA in a Group A match at 4pm, while Christian United take on Metro at 2.30pm in a Group B fixture.

“This week, after a poor performance from the team, we have seen some more senior players go, mainly to Olympic,” said Hobart United’s Pedro Ramirez.

“The challenge will be to get the full team together.

“Mark Broadbent has been working on shaping the team for a game that will tell how Hobart United will perform throughout the year.”

One cannot help but feel for United, who won the title last season and then lost the promotion/relegation play-off to New Town Eagles.

It really is a story of from riches to rags.

DOSA have much to prove as they step up a tier this season. They have always been great rivals of United and the shoe now appears to be on the other foot.

Metro should have few concerns about the game against Christian United.

“We will make a few changes to the team that played against Taroona in round 1,” said Metro coach, Darrin Chaffey.

“Last week was a good hit-out. We were reasonably pleased with most parts of our game.

“I think both teams were light on personnel, which will certainly change over the coming weeks.

“We had a good 75 per cent of the play, but lacked the finishing up front.

“The end result could’ve been very different had we capitalised on our many chances in the first half.

“However, we didn’t and Taroona had one real chance, which they made the most of.

“This week, on the training track, we’ve been working on ensuring we punish the opposition when giving us a look in.

“James Hope and Shane Leake are unavailable and goalkeeper Michael McKenna is likely to need another week.

“Wade Hawkins and Danny Cowen both had very good debuts and are likely to retain their spots at right back and left-midfield, respectively.

“Jim Brown is a likely starter after missing last week’s game due to work commitments.

“We also have a few new signings that may be available for some game time.”