The stage is set for another memorable chapter in the Hahn Australia Cup, with Northern NSW Football's representatives Maitland FC and Weston Bears preparing to take on some of Australia's best in the national round of 32.
Maitland will host NPL Western Australia outfit Fremantle City FC at Maitland Regional Sportsground on Wednesday night at 7.30pm, while Weston will welcome A-League Men’s club Melbourne City to Hunter City Motor Group Stadium on Sunday at 2pm.
The Magpies booked their place in the round of 32 following a dominant 4-0 victory over Kahibah FC with Daniel McFarlane, Angus Muddle and a Braedyn Crowley double sealing progression.
Fresh off six consecutive NPL Men’s NNSW victories, coach Adam Hughes wants his side to stick to the processes that have delivered results in recent weeks when they face Fremantle.
“We need to continue the processes that we've been doing. We’ve had some personnel come in where we needed to strengthen in a couple of different areas and they've really added to a better balance within the whole group itself,” Hughes said.
“I think we play a decent brand of football for the level where we're at and the detail of understanding with each individual is there within their roles and responsibilities.
“We know how to do that but now we must do it with a better quality and a higher intensity. If we're capable of performing that way, we give ourselves every chance to win the game.”
Despite the almost 4000km distance between the two clubs, Hughes and his staff have been preparing for Fremantle since the draw was announced and have identified the threats they will pose.
“We’ve done a lot of analysis work over the course of the last couple of weeks. We've had people building clips for probably three or four weeks now, once we found out who we were playing,” Hughes said.
“We've got a fair bit of information on them from what we've seen and it's one of those ones where we've identified where the key players are, the threats and how we're going to go up against them.
“It's now down to the finer detail of putting that in place on the park and trying to bring that to life when it comes around for the match.”
Hughes said his side would give everything in their quest to progress, with a strong home crowd potentially providing the final push.
“We hope a good crowd turns up. It's not often that you get to participate in the round of 32 and not face an A-League opponent first up, so we've had a bit of good luck on that side of the draw,” Hughes said.
“We're planning to go out and win the game and everything that we're working on is geared that way.
“If we get a good crowd that can really push us home, it will add to the occasion.”
While Maitland will look to continue their impressive league form, Weston Bears will embrace a different challenge when they welcome A-League Men’s opposition.
Weston secured their round of 32 place with a 1-0 victory over Edgeworth Eagles, with Brock Beveridge’s 75th-minute strike proving the difference.
For head coach Damian Zane, it is not his first time facing A-League opposition in the round of 32, and he knows his side must handle the opening stages against Melbourne City to stay in the contest.
“Everyone talks about our cup run being over but I know at Edgeworth in my very first year [2015], we pushed Melbourne City all the way to the end, so you never know,” Zane said.
“You've got to hang in the game early. There's obviously an increase in the speed of play and you feel like you don't have much time on the ball. If you can stay in the game, you grow in confidence.
“In all the teams I've coached, we've generally come up against bigger teams, so it's really important to stay in the game early. Then you start to adjust to the speed.
“It's not that the players can't do it, it's just that it's played at a quicker pace. If you find yourself one or two goals down early, you're already chasing the game. Staying in it early is the key.
“I think we've got some threats in attack, put it that way.”
Zane wants his players to embrace every moment of their round of 32 opportunity.
“I know the feeling from the clubs I've coached and how exciting the [Hahn] Australia Cup is,” Zane said.
“The club has generated a lot of excitement from last year's run and once you get a taste for it, you want more, so it's pretty exciting.
“I've said to them [his squad], ‘just enjoy the week, even the lead-in because it goes quickly and you want to enjoy every moment’.
“Players at this level don't get this opportunity all the time, or even every year. I just want them to enjoy it.
“We'll work hard, we'll have a plan and never say never.”
MATCH DETAILS
Maitland FC v Fremantle City
Date: Wednesday 22 July
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Maitland Regional Sportsground
Purchase tickets HERE
Weston Bears v Melbourne City
Date: Sunday 26 July
Time: 2pm
Location: Hunter City Motor Group Stadium
Purchase tickets HERE