Ground: Rupanyup Recreation Reserve, Saturday, 2.20pm.
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Last time they met: Round eight, 2014. Natimuk United 18.12 (120) d Rupanyup 8.8 (56).
RUPANYUP will host Natimuk United on Saturday, and is confident it can upset the Rams for its second win of the season.
A slow start was the Panthers’ undoing in the previous meeting between the sides, but they outscored Natimuk United after half-time.
With his young team continuing to show signs of improvement and the Rams stuck in a form slump, coach Mick Finnigan said his team stood a chance of winning if it played its best.
“The personnel haven’t changed too much for us since last time, but we’ve just been able to enact the things we’ve been practising a bit better,” he said.
“For one reason or another they might have fallen off a little bit, but they’ve got some quality players so we’ll need to play well.”
Finnigan said Campbell Matthews was a 90 per cent chance to play, but Cam Taylor, injury, and Dennis Finnigan, work, are unavailable.
Natimuk United coach Tim Friend said his team needed to get back to basics to break out of its slump.
“The boys had a pretty good night at training on Tuesday with plenty of numbers on the track, so hopefully that carries through,” he said.
“We just need to get back to having fun playing footy.
“The pressure of finals isn’t there anymore for us, so we have to enjoy the contest and hopefully enjoy winning again.”
Friend said the likes of experienced Panthers Nathan Sachse, James Delahunty, Drew Tyler, Paul Trotter and David Lang would have his players on their guard.
Former club player Kyle O’Connor played on a one-game clearance from Horsham Saints at the weekend, and will be out of the side.
Kym Wilkinson is expected to take his place, but Friend said he was unsure what, if any, other changes would be made.