Tiger Turf Cup Semi-Final Preview

Major attentions though will be turned to the Tiger Turf Cup semi-final encounters at Seymour Shaw on Saturday and Sunday, featuring three other Premier League sides along with Super League outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
In the first semi-final, rivals Sutherland Sharks and Sydney Olympic do battle on Saturday evening with the scene set for a ?no holds barred? battle.
Both side?s featured in the pre-season Johnny Warren Cup Final at the same venue as Sydney Olympic claimed an emphatic extra-time winner to clinch the title.
The Sharks tremendous run would continue, though for Sydney Olympic there was to be a serious form slump once the TeleChoice Premier League kicked-off.
As is so often the case in football, Sutherland?s healthy run of eighteen-unbeaten matches in the Premier League came to an end against then bottom-placed Blacktown City Demons, before a second-consecutive loss against Marconi Stallions confirmed a drop in confidence for the high-flyers.
That said, Brian Brown?s men have continued to play good football and were desperately unlucky not to take something more from Marconi Stallions last weekend.
On the contrary, Sydney Olympic have returned to the impressive form displayed in pre-season and can boast about the return from injury of several key elements ? above all Shannon Cole and Matthew Mayora.
The Blues slump did commence at the same time these players were forced to sit out due to injury, though their return has sparked a much more clinical approach by Milan Blagojevic?s side.
The Blues have not lost since Round 17 and have been clinical in their past three matches, scoring eleven goals with only two conceded.
On Sunday afternoon, Premier League outfit Bankstown City attempt to ?make right? of what has been a disappointing campaign to-date.
Bankstown City and the Top-Five go hand-in-hand, though 2008 has failed to deliver the spark for last season?s runner-up.
Good performances have been overshadowed by poor finishing and lapses in defence, condemning Peter Tsekenis? side to a season finale without finals football. To salvage a disappointing campaign will mean reigning supreme in the Tiger Turf Cup, a task that will be by no means easier against Super League outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
The White Eagles lead the way on the Super League ladder and are coming off a big 5-0 win against Fraser Park.
Bonnyrigg?s run has been exceptional, including the scalps of Penrith-Nepean United and A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers.
Without the likes of influential pairing Leo Carle and Tony Faria ? both Cup tied – the White Eagles will have their work cut-out, though the influence of captain David Petrovic and the likes of experienced campaigners Mark D?Alessandro and Paul Cotte promise to stand their side with a big chance of success.
-By Joseph Carlucci