Bentleigh Greens will take to the pitch in its third semi-final is as many years tomorrow night, hosting Hume City FC at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
The Greens advanced through to the semi-finals after consolidating second position on the table at the conclusion of the regular season, earning a week’s rest alongside South Melbourne who finished the year as premiers.
It hasn’t been an as smooth path to the semi’s for Loui Acevski’s side, who will be forced into playing its third game inside seven days tomorrow night.
Hume booked a date against the Greens following a penalty shootout victory over Melbourne Knights last Friday, before progressing to the final eight of the FFA Cup with a win over Sydney Olympic on Tuesday night.
Despite a week absent from action, Greens’ coach John Anastasiadis remains confident that his side will be fully prepared for tomorrow night’s blockbuster.
“Even though we’ve had a week off playing, we’ve actually been training pretty hard so we haven’t let up at all,” Anastasiadis said.
“It was a bit easier on the track last week but this week we really pumped it up on Monday and obviously today, our last session before the game. Preparations have been as per normal. We know what’s at stake so the boys are geared up for it.”
The 47-year-old was on hand to see Hume defeat Sydney Olympic on Tuesday night and admitted he was impressed by the performance of tomorrow’s opponents.
“I thought Hume were excellent yesterday,” Anastasiadis said after training on Wednesday night.
“They were very sharp and they looked very, very good. They were up for the game and deservedly won it.
“I don’t think that’ll change for them on Friday,” he said reflecting on his own side’s close to the year in 2014, contending with both FFA Cup and league duties.
“I think if you re-live what we did last year, we played on adrenaline, especially towards the end of the season and in the FFA Cup and we produced performances and actual results.
“So I think Hume will come into this game with their best and have a crack at the title.”
Head-to-head, Bentleigh has recorded both a win and a draw against City throughout the 2015 season.
Earlier in the year, Matt Thurtell’s penalty was enough to split the two sides before Hume recorded a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at ABD Stadium.
“I’ve been scarred from it,” Anastasiadis joked in reference to his team’s 3-0 loss to Hume.
“I believe the players realized what happened last time – some of them actually owe us to do well on Friday and they’ve been told so.
“They know what they produced last time was unacceptable and the game on Friday is a totally different prospect. Its up to them and I believe they’ll go out there an really show what they are worth.”
Kick-off is schedule for 7.30PM tomorrow night at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.