Devonport take on Maitland FC at 1pm today

Devonport City left home at 6am yesterday to fly to New South Wales and their NPL Finals series clash with Northern New South Wales champions Maitland FC.

They left their Newcastle hotel at 6am this morning to travel to Maitland’s Cook’s Square Park, where the game will kick off at 1pm.

Devonport haven’t played for almost three weeks, although some of the players were in action for a Tasmanian NPL select side against A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners on 8 September.

Maitland, on the other hand, have been in action as recently as last weekend when they lost the NNSW grand final to Edgeworth FC.

Devonport have more experience on the national stage than their opponents, having played twice in the NPL finals series and also in the FFA Cup series.

Whether this will give them the edge in today’s game is a moot point.

Devonport are likely to be a little tired from the travel and Maitland should benefit from playing at home.

Both sides should be at full strength and it should be a fiercely contested game.

The winner will take on the victor of the Campbelltown City FC (South Australia) and Lions FC (Queensland) game.