Border Mail | THURGOONA'S depth will be put to the test against reigning premiers Tallangatta this weekend, but co-coach Jamarl O'Sullivan says the Bulldogs can cover it.
Goalkickers Matthew Fowler and Lucas Mellier are unavailable for the clash against the Hoppers, along with a host of others.
After falling to Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Barnawartha in successive weeks, O'Sullivan said the Dogs weren't far away from returning to the winners’ circle.
“We've battled through the last couple of weeks and been overrun late in games,” he said.
“It's shown that if we can't kick straight and put scoreboard pressure on early it comes back to bite us.
“We've been stuck without a bench a couple of times, which hasn't helped.”
O’Sullivan said Jacob Bruce would be a chance to return to the side if he could prove his fitness, but added that the players handed the job of stepping into the seniors were pulling their weight.
"Players like Joel Robinson coming up from the thirds have been a breath of fresh air,” he said.
“The club has won a couple of reserves premierships in the last few years, hopefully some of those players will get the opportunity to step up on a more regular basis.
“The challenge for them is to continue putting their hand up to get a run when the side is at full strength.
“There's still a fair few new faces and we're taking a little bit of time to gel together, but I think we're showing some positive signs.”
O'Sullivan said that while travelling to take on the reigning premiers would be a tough ask, it would be a good test of where the club was at.
“It's always a tough ask, but we've just got to concentrate on the things we can control,” he said.
“They'll be up and about, I don't think there's any doubt about that.”
In other matches this weekend, Yackandandah host the rejuvenated Barnawartha, Chiltern travel to take on Mitta, Wahgunyah host the Wodonga Saints, Rutherglen face Beechworth and Dederang-Mount Beauty face Kiewa-Sandy Creek.