Magpies focussed

Denmark-Walpole coach James McRae says his players are only focussed on progressing past North Albany in Sunday’s elimination first semifinal despite the Magpies moving into premiership calculation on the back of a resurgent month of football.

The Magpies will start favourites to progress to the preliminary final having registered wins over Royals, the Kangas and Railways in the past three weeks to become the form team of the competition.

Having won their past five matches, McRae said his team would not be taking the Kangas lightly in the cut-throat encounter and the expectation on his side to progress would not be a factor.

The 2010 premiership coach identified prolific ball-winners Mitch Tuffley and Brent Welshman, Kleemann Medallist Graham Ross and the versatile Stuart Myers as the players who could lead the Kangas to a boilover.

“When you win five in a row everyone starts talking about you a bit more,” McRae said.

“(We’re) definitely the form team at the moment but with every win you’re closer to a loss.

“We just have to keep our feet grounded. We are still very young …we won’t be getting ahead of ourselves.

“We’d be gutted if we lost. You don’t win your last five games to go out in the first semifinal.”

The fitness of Brody Hickey continues to remain a concern, with the wingman missing the past two weeks with a foot injury, and was rated a 50-50 chance to play on Tuesday. Midfielder Sean Laurie has been ruled out after suffering a broken jaw from an alleged assault in Albany early Sunday morning.

McRae said the inclusion of Hickey and Leon Wilson would ease the burden on Kleemann Medal favourite Tyler Stone who has shouldered the midfield load in recent weeks.

Kangas coach Mick Mustey said nullifying the impact of Stone, Wilson and rebounding defender Alec Haskins would be the key to his side causing an upset.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. It’s up to the boys how far they want to go,” Mustey said. “We have always played good footy out there, the ground suits us and I certainly don’t mind if it’s wet.”