Nightcliff has one more chance to get its season back on track in this week’s preliminary final

NIGHTCLIFF coach Chris Baksh expects the hunger in his players' bellies to reach starvation point when they run out against Southern Districts in the NTFL preliminary final

Goalkicker Liam Holt-Fitz missed Nightcliff’s second semi-final loss to St Mary’s. Picture: Glenn Campbell

NIGHTCLIFF coach Chris Baksh expects the hunger in his players' bellies to reach starvation point when they run out against Southern Districts in Saturday night’s NTFL preliminary final.

The Tigers suffered a rare loss and the second at the hands of St Mary’s this season when beaten in last Saturday’s second semi-final.

Nightcliff won only one quarter, the third, against a ferocious Saints side desperate to win the game for suspended forward Leroy Larson and atone for “winning’’ the wooden spoon only 12 months ago.

Nightcliff’s starting 18 was thrown into confusion when livewire small forward Liam Holt-Fitz and experienced defender Nathan Brown were left out with hamstring soreness.

“That’s footy, I thought they might come at us hard and that’s how it turned out,’’ Baksh told the NT News.

“We’re disappointed, but that’s why you want to finish in the top two if you have a slip-up like that.

“I thought they were quick on the outside and hard on the inside and the side we had without Browny and Fitzy meant we had to change it up a bit.’'

Baksh played down spearhead John Butcher’s poor finishing in front of goals in the third quarter when he only converted one of five set shots from 35 metres out to finish with a match return of 1.5.

“He had opportunities he didn’t take, but on the other side he probably kept us in the game,’’ Baksh said.

“Turn that around and even if you make it 3.3 it’s game on and anything could have happened from there.’’

“They (Saints) played really well and we didn’t play to our strengths, but it puts a bit more hunger in our bellies and with the recovery session we’ll look at how we can improve and focus completely on Districts.’’