Border Mail | A hamstring injury has made 2013 Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra only “50-50” to play for Peninsula on Saturday.
PENINSULA is sweating on the fitness of former Hawthorn premiership defender Brent Guerra ahead of Saturday’s inter-league showdown against the Ovens and Murray at Albury Sportsground.
The Chelsea coach missed the weekend’s home-and-away round with hamstring tightness and will face a fitness test at training tonight.
Peninsula coach Troy Shannon yesterday said Guerra, 32, who was “probably 50-50”, was eager to play.
“He didn’t play at the weekend but he’s keen and will see how he goes,” Shannon said.
“Hopefully he will come up in time.”
While Guerra is in doubt, Peninsula will still field a potent line-up, with former West Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond forward Aaron Edwards set to play.
He has kicked 17 goals in six matches for Pines, despite playing mainly in defence and through the midfield.
“Aaron is as keen as mustard,” Shannon said.
“He’s one of those guys who is playing everywhere at the moment.
“He’s been back and in the midfield because Pines have some strong forwards this season.”
Shannon, who played under Martin Cross at North Albury in the mid-1990s, said selectors would finalise their squad at training tonight, with only “two or three” players under injury clouds.
“We are only four or five shy of picking our perfect squad because of injuries,” he said.
“We’re in good shape and got through the weekend almost unscathed.
“We will be a lot different to last year with probably only a handful of the same players.
Peninsula copped a hiding last season, belted by the Geelong league by 85 points for the Victorian Country title.
“It was pretty embarrassing and we have done a few things differently since,” Shannon said.
“We are up against a strong league and will have our work cut out.”
Ovens and Murray will train at Wangaratta tonight with Lavington coach James Saker the major casualty from the weekend.
Wodonga Raiders’ Todd Grayson, Steve Jolliffe, Jake Goldsmith, Jydon Neagle and Ross Tungatalum, Lavington’s Luke Garland and Albury’s Setanta and Aisake o’hAilpin are also out of the original squad.
He didn’t play at the weekend with a hamstring but he’s telling me that he’s keen and will see how he goes. PENINSULA COACH TROY SHANNON
