THE Horsham Saints will bank on home court advantage in their preliminary final against a Horsham Demons outfit with vastly more final experience on Sunday.
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The Demons won the round one encounter between the sides by 17 goals and were 14-goal winners in round eight. The results mean it will be a mental battle for the young Saints despite the side carrying arguably better form into the encounter.
Saints coach Jess Cannane said she thought playing in a familiar environment will make it easier for her side to treat it as just another game.
“We’re obviously very excited to be playing in the preliminary final but it’s going to be a huge mental battle against a formidable Horsham team,” she said.
Cannane said Demons’ goal shooter Emma Buwalda will be key in the game.
“We have our own version of Emma at the other end though,” she said. “I think the battle between her and Maggie (Caris) could mean its a high scoring game.”
With the game to be played indoors outside conditions will be taken away as a factor.
That will allow the Horsham Saints the best opportunity to deploy its favoured tactic of throwing long passes into attack. “Playing indoors certainly makes things easier for us but it also makes things easier for the Demons,” Cannane said.
The lack of height the Horsham Demons have at the defensive end was exposed in the second semi-final against Minyip-Murtoa. It could again have a big impact on how the game pans out. “When you take Mel Scott out of Horsham’s team it is bound to have an impact but Horsham have plenty more experience than us across the court,” Cannane said. “We just need to continue to play the way we want to.”