Southport Sharks welcome back a host of their best for NEAFL clash against Northern Territory in Darwin

The cavalry have arrived for Southport who will welcome the return of 10 of their best players for Saturday’s clash with Northern Territory as they fight to secure a top two finish.

THE cavalry have arrived for Southport who will welcome the return of 10 of their best players for Saturday’s clash with Northern Territory as they fight to secure a top two finish.

The Sharks have been battered by injury and unavailability in recent times but their luck looks to be turning on the cusp of finals.

Southport will welcome back Rhys Clark (ankle), Ryan Davis, Tom Fields (hamstring tightness), Josh Hall (wedding), Michael Manteit (work), Jack Mentha (rested), Tom Miller (ankle), Jed Turner (rested) and Josh Williams (ankle) while Jordan Taylor will make his return from a hamstring injury in Palm Beach Currumbin’s QAFL game against Broadbeach.

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The Sharks have lost Jamison Shea (concussion), Mackenzie Willis (ankle), Trent Stubbs (concussion) and young ruckman Jackson Brumley while Harrison Arnold, Emmanuel Baru, Sam Jewell, Alex Rodrick and Cory Beaman have been omitted.

Southport are second on the ladder and hold a four-point buffer over the Sydney Swans going into Round 20 this weekend.

Round 11 NEAFL game between the Southport Sharks and Gold Coast Suns at Fankhauser Reserve. Photo of Tom Fields has a crack at goal. Photo by Richard Gosling

Their percentage (97.81) is lower than both Sydney (105.63) and fourth-placed Aspley (127.16), who are two wins back from the Sharks. It makes winning their last two games critical for Southport to secure a week off in the first round of the finals and home ground advantage in the second.

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“We have a bit to play for here so we need to try and make sure we get up (to Darwin) and get the four points,” Sharks football manager Jarrod Field said.

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Suns have made seven changes for their game against Sydney Swans at Tramway Oval on Saturday, including the return of highly touted draftee Izak Rankine from a hamstring injury.

Michael Rischitelli, Jack Johnston, Ryan Gilmore, Jacob Heron, George Horlin-Smith, Jacob Dawson are the other inclusions while Jack Martin, Cooper Portelli (both injured), Ethan Reeves and Michael Selsby and have been dropped.

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