THE South West District Football Netball League season approaches its climax with preliminary finals played tomorrow.

In footabll, it will be a battle of the ages with Coleraine and Dartmoor facing off for a spot in the SWDFNL senior football grand final.

The Maroons and Giants finished the home and away season first and second respectively, but one will drop out in tomorrow's sudden death preliminary final at Heathmere.

Both teams have strong midfields and big forward targets, and Coleraine coach, Ryan McClure said taking the long route to the season decider didn’t matter despite claiming the minor premiership.

“They’re excited for the opportunity, the opportunity to play another final doesn’t worry us,” he said.

“We have been focusing on staying confident and taking the game on, at times Cavendish was able to gain momentum last week and when we have the ball we need to use it well.”

The Maroons mentor expects the game to be won in the midfield, with both teams possession big bodies and class on the outside.

“Dartmoor is so strong over the ball and there are key match-ups at both ends which will also play a role,” McClure said.

“He (Christian Howlett) hasn’t kicked a bag against us yet, and that makes me nervous.

“It doesn’t matter who the match-up is, if the supply is like it was last week, we won’t stand a chance.

“We need plenty pressure on the ball up the field.”

Despite a couple of sore bodies, the Maroons should have a mostly fit squad to choose from with only one or two players set to undergo fitness tests in the lead up to the game.

McClure was conscious of not building the game up too much ahead of tomorrow, with much of the instruction set to happen pre-game.

“Discussions among the coaches happens during the week, but most of the young players will just turn up on Saturday to play football and the directives will take place on the day,” he said.

For the Giants, they lost top spot after Coleraine’s thumping final round win and will be desperate to make amends and back up its 2021 minor premiership with a chance to salute this year.

Dartmoor coach, Jayden Polaski, will be hoping his midfield can get on top with Mark Cowland returning to the side last week and giving the Giants a strong contest in the ruck.

The Giants midfield often hit the scoreboard as well and will need to offer options up forward if they are to get over the Maroons tomorrow afternoon.

Reserves

DARTMOOR and Heywood will face-off in the SWDFNL reserves preliminary final with the third-placed Giants favourite against the fifth-placed Lions.

In netball, it will be all on the line tomorrow when Dartmoor and Cavendish fight for the one remaining South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) A grade grand final spot.

Tyrendarra awaits the winner, but both the Giants and Bloods have the squad to claim a win and keep their season alive with a win in tomorrow's preliminary final at Heathmere.

Dartmoor playing-coach, Elise Haw said the excitement levels were continuing to grow ahead of the game.

“We are pretty keen, we know Cavendish will come out strong but we know what we have to do,” she said.

“We just have to focus on turning over the ball and applying high pressure and shut Marni (Luhrs) down.”

Keeping the nerves in check will also be important with the Giants going into the clash with less finals experience.

Haw said she had noticed moments within the group where the occasion had an impact but backed the team to settle and play its best netball this afternoon.

“Cavendish do have a lot more finals experience than us,” she said.

“I saw plenty of nerves in the girls last week, but the girls are very hyped up and they are very keen to get out there.”

Dartmoor will welcome back Georgia Bryden from injury, giving Haw a full squad for the game.

A strong start will be critical with Chloe Finnigan and Marni Luhrs likely to be a pivotal match-up.

“Chloe Finnigan won the best and fairest and Marni was runner-up, so they are well matched up,” Haw said.

“We have learnt from Tyrendarra, we have started slow every time we played them and we need a good first quarter.

“We have talked about it and hopefully we can apply scoreboard pressure.”

For the Bloods, it is yet another do or die clash and playing-coach, Marni Luhrs is backing her team to account for the Giants.

“We are on a bit of a high after last Sunday’s game,” she said.

“I think for us it is all coming together at the right time of the year.

“We knew we had the talent in the group and it was just about getting everyone together on the court without injury.”

The Bloods go in with plenty of experience, and Luhrs leads the way having played in multiple A grade premierships for the red and white.

She said an even contribution from each of the players would give the team the best chance of progressing to the season decider.

“I do encourage the girls just to play their role, at the end of the day if they win their position, it means we are one step closer to winning the game,” she said.

“Our midcourt is going to be crucial, we are going to focus on slowing their ball movement down and try to turn the ball over before it gets to their attacking end.”

Cavendish will go into the preliminary final with the same side which defeated Westerns in Sunday’s semi-final.

Other grades

DARTMOOR and Coleraine will face-off in the A Reserve preliminary final, while Coleraine and Tyrendarra will battle it out in the B grade clash.

Cavendish and Branxholme-Wallacedale will contest the C grade preliminary final.

Westerns and Tyrendarra will be on court in the 17-and-Under match-up, while Coleraine and Heathmere will contest the 15-and-Under game.

Coleraine and Cavendish will open proceedings in the penultimate game of the 13-and-Under season.