NORTH Gambier will head into the furnace tomorrow when they cross the border to face Casterton Sandford in Round 9 of Western Border football.
The Tigers have struggled this season and take on the top-of-the-ladder Cats, who are always a tough proposition at Island Park.
The contrast between the two sides this season could not be much greater, with the Cats yet to lose a game, while the Tigers have won just one.
Last outing the Cats drew with second-placed Millicent, while the Tigers went down to the bottom-placed South Gambier, which probably speaks volumes about their season so far.
With a strong side on the park each week, the Tigers have simply performed below par, while the Cats are again the polar opposite.
Casterton Sandford recruited well in the off-season and have performed accordingly.
The interesting piece of the puzzle is of course the “local” connection to the vast majority of players in the side, providing a great feel around the club.
Last time the two sides met back in Round 4 the Cats gave the Tigers a lesson at Vansittart Park, running out convincing 64-point victors.
Callum Currie did kick a bag of goals that game and will not be available tomorrow.
His presence could have been missed last round, where the Cats drew with the Saints.
However, there is no shortage of players ready to stand up and kick goals, especially on their home deck.
Last week Josh Stephenson banged home three, while coach Hamish Jarrad and Todd Clode finished the day with two each.
Michael Cummings has played a more on-ball role of late, but is capable of a bag himself if the situation calls for it.
Add to that a long list of others and the Cats are certainly a dangerous proposition.
For the Tigers the pickings have been far more meagre, with Tom McLennan having a consistent impact up forward.
Brock Egan comes off an impressive effort at the South East Zone carnival, while Nick Blachut and Fraser Marshall add to the run-and-carry.
The list goes on, but the results have not come.
The worrying thing for Tigers supporters is the margins in the majority of games, which have not been small.
Take nothing away from South Gambier, but last round’s performance against the Demons was the low point of the season for North.
Again it was not a close result, but a five-goal defeat.
Unless the Tigers can lift tomorrow, their woeful season will continue, with the Cats not about to let them off the hook.
The Cats still hold down top spot in their own right, with the Saints chasing hard, so the time for complacency is not this round.
The home side should win convincingly, leaving the Tigers to lick their wounds for another week.
