Ryan Sinclair says his minor premiership-winning Waratahs FC outfit isn't fussed which Barnstoneworth side they face in the Orange District Football Association A Grade grand final, adding they're focus hasn't shifted to September 21's big dance just yet anyway.
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Barnstoneworth FC and United face-off in Saturday's preliminary final at Bernie Stedman Field and while Sinclair and his side will "have a squiz" at that game, they're firmly focused on the opening round of Football NSW's Champion of Champions Tournament the day after.
Waratahs FC host the Sydney-based Kemps Creek in that game on Sunday afternoon, the knockout tournament is one of Football NSW's most prestigious and pits a number of region's minor premiers against one another over a five-week period.
If we do manage to jag a win it'll give us a fair roll-on into the grand final.
- Waratahs FC skipper Ryan Sinclair, on this weekend's Champion of Champions clash
"I've never really heard of them, but being from Sydney they'll obviously be tough," Sinclair said of the Southern Districts Association's top dogs.
"It's actually really great that we can give it a serious crack this year because in past seasons it's always been played the day after our grand final, which means teams have turned out a little under the weather for obvious reasons.
"You can't do that against those Sydney sides and expect to run with them, so we're really looking forward to having a red-hot shot at them on Sunday."
Waratahs FC will be missing a few key players for the showdown with the Tigers, with Jackson Sinclair suspended and Steve Cooper, Adam Kelly and last year's grand final hero Craig Sugden all unavailable.
"Jack picked up a few too many yellow cards during the season, he missed the major semi-final as well but he'll be back for the grand final which is good. Stevey and Suggo will too, but Adam Kelly will miss that one too because he's away," Sinclair explained.
"We've got those few out but I still don't think there'll be any excuses should we lose. If we do manage to jag a win it'll give us a fair roll-on into the grand final too, and we're all looking forward to having a run this weekend rather than a week off.
"You could say you risk injury and that sort of thing but I've always preferred to keep playing, even just for the sake of momentum, confidence, combinations and fitness, that kind of thing."
On the grand final, Sinclair did hazard a prediction and suggest his side will face Barnstoneworth FC in their bid to secure a second consecutive title, they knocked off Millthorpe 2-nil in last year's decider.
"I'm inclined to think they might go through but we're not too fussed on who we play, both Barnies sides are strong and they're quite similar in a lot of ways. I just FC are a bit younger and have seemed to have more depth this season, which helps at this time of year," he said.
"We'd love to go back-to-back, but we'll focus on this weekend and then start thinking about that grand final next week."
Dubbo's Orana Spurs will also feature in the opening round, the final eight, of the Champion of Champions Tournament this weekend, they'll host Northern Suburbs' Northbridge at Lady Cutler Oval on Sunday.
Waratahs FC face Kemps Creek from 12.30pm at Jack Brabham Park on Sunday afternoon.
Orange United, an association side, takes on Winston Hills FC from 12.45pm at Jack Brabham on the same day in the under-18 men's division's round of 32.
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