A PLAYER shortage looks certain to cost Port Macquarie any serious chance of defending their NSW Country Championship touch football title at Wollongong this weekend.
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Only six players have so far made themselves available for selection in the Aaron Ison’s mixed open team, but the captain preferred to label it as a “fitness run” instead.
“We’ve got a bit of a mix and match team, but I still think we can finish in the top four,” Ison said.
“We’ve had a few pull out and last year we won it with nine, but we’ve only got six so far.”
Tony Thompson, Jack Chapman, Anna Lewis, Jazzy Wilbow, Tahney Luck and Ison will head south just hoping to make the finals.
It will be a largely new-look and undermanned side compared to ones Port Macquarie has fielded at previous tournaments.
However, the top eight progress and Ison still believed his team were good enough to qualify for the finals.
“We’re probably one of the top two sides that will play there when everyone is available,” Ison said.
Newcastle are expected to be the team to beat despite their sixth-place ranking in the state.
“We’re not expecting to win it, but Newcastle should go close,” the captain said.
“If we can get another couple of players we’ll go okay.”
The competition starts on Saturday and wraps up on Sunday.
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