Eastern Suburbs head coach Kane Wintersgill has hinted the Lilywhites will rotate their squad as they face two big games over King’s Birthday Weekend.
“It makes things very tough. We play on Saturday in the league and then play on Monday in the cup against Manurewa who are a very strong team, so playing two games in 48 hours is no easy task,” Wintersgill told NewstalkZB’s D’Arcy Waldegrave.
Suburbs are the Northern League leaders as the season reaches its halfway mark, and they host Melville United on Saturday (3pm).
On Monday, they travel to Manurewa for a Chatham Cup second round tie, with Rewa in form that has taken them to third in the league.
“As well as we’re doing currently, all form goes out the window in cup competitions and especially with such a prestigious cup as this one,” Wintersgill (25) told Waldegrave.
Suburbs were beaten finalists in last year’s Chatham Cup, losing to Auckland City.
“If it turns into a game where you just have to find a way to win, you know, I hope and would like to think that with the players that we have, with the importance of the cup, and what it means to the club and the run that some of those players had last year losing in the final it might mean a little bit more to them this year.
‘We’re taking nothing for granted’
“It’s really hard to get the balance right but balance is probably the big word, and the most important thing.
“I don’t want to give too much away but we’ll try to strike a good balance without taking anything for granted.
“Just because things are going really well, it doesn’t mean they can’t suddenly go terribly wrong. We’re very aware of that and taking nothing for granted.”
Hinting he would bring fresh legs into the squad over the weekend, Wintersgill said: “We’re looking forward to seeing how some people go with an opportunity.”
Main photograph: Kane Wintersgill … ‘no easy task’. Photo credit: LinkedIn.
Listen to full interview
Wintersgill’s full interview with D’Arcy Waldegrave here:
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday June 3, 2023
Northern League
Eastern Suburbs v Melville United
Madills Farm, St Heliers, 3pm
Game to be played on Monday June 5, 2023
Chatham Cup
READ MORE: Here are the Chatham Cup ties you need to follow this weekend >>>>
Manurewa v Eastern Suburbs
Manurewa War Memorial Park, Manurewa, 2pm
League standings
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