Premier League returns as Leichhardt hosts Innisfail United
The FNQ Premier League will return a week earlier than expected, with one team taking the field despite a heavily disrupted preparation for the fixture.
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LEICHHARDT will be forced to overcome a heavily disrupted preparation when they host Innisfail United on Sunday night
The FNQ Premier League will return a week earlier than expected, with the Lions taking the field despite a heavily impacted lead-up to the fixture.
Previous announcements from Football Queensland said that FNQ Premier League fixtures would not return until Friday, August 27, after the early lifting of restrictions in Cairns, Yarrabah and south east Queensland to allow players to train.
But on Thursday, the league chose to program three fixtures, with Leichhardt to host the Cutters in three grades - youth, reserves and the Premier League.
The Round 17 clash was originally scheduled for the afternoon of August 8, but was postponed when the Queensland Government announced the suspension of community sport that morning.
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Leichhardt is in the Cairns LGA, meaning they have had to abide by restrictions, which includes training in groups of no more than 10 people.
Innisfail United, along with other clubs outside the Cairns LGA, have been able to train as per normal, except for the individuals who work or travel to Cairns.
But with time running out before the finals, and Innisfail United already being locked into two more midweek fixtures in the next few weeks, there weren’t many other workable solutions.
“There is definitely a disadvantage,” said Leichhardt coach Karl Bennett.
“It would’ve been worse at the start of the season, but we’ve been keeping in touch and making sure people have kept active.
“It’s not ideal, but if we don’t play it on Sunday, when do we play?
“We were looking forward through the upcoming weeks and there’s not too many options.”
Leichhardt players have maintained fitness and kept the football at their feet during the restriction period, but when they hit the field on Sunday night they will be chasing three vital competition points.
The Lions fell 1-0 to Mareeba United in their last game, a fixture Bennett and other football supporters would have expected the team to win.
It meant that rather than enjoy a four-point buffer in second, Leichhardt will be forced to approach every game as one they must win or risk sliding down the ladder.
“First and foremost, we’re second, we’re getting to the end of the year, and we want to play finals, so every win is important,” he said.
“If we don’t win, we’ll find ourselves in the pack and fighting for our position.
“At this moment, I’m thinking it’s a game we must win.”
FNQ Women’s Premier League games have also been scheduled for early next week.
JCU Strikers will travel to Tiger Park to face Edge Hill United on Monday night, while Mareeba United will host Leichhardt on Tuesday night
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
Originally published as Premier League returns as Leichhardt hosts Innisfail United
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