Grammar confident ahead of Bill Turner Cup clash

Toowoomba Grammar School prepares to face Sydney FC backed team in Bill Turner Cup

CUP CLASH: Toowoomba Grammar School's Bill Turner Cup team gets in a contested training session ahead of their national semi-final match against Bossley Park High School today. Picture: Nev Madsen

FOOTBALL: Nothing changes for Toowoomba Grammar School's under-15 Bill Turner Cup today.

Grammar faces Bossley Park High - a school supported by A-League premiers Sydney FC - in the national semi-final of the schoolboys cup competition.

Coach Chris McLeod said his young side would approach the showdown just like every other game this season.

"It's an exciting for time for the boys. They're really looking forward to the game and the challenge,” McLeod said.

"Bossley Park are aligned with Sydney FC. It's a great program there and they are very technically and tactically astute.

"We've been training well though and we have a game plan we're confident will work for us.

"The good thing about the side is they play well as a team and we have depth.

"We've got players who can come off the bench and change things up for us.”

A session with new Grammar coach Thiago Kosloski could also prove to be key in the team's preparation.

"We had a really good session with Thiago (Kosloski) recently,” McLeod said.

"The focus was not just on the technical side of the game - we talked about the mental side.

"The key message was about respect.

"We need to respect our opponents but not fear them.”

Patience will also be a virtue for the team that finished third in last year's competition.

"We expect they will have a lot of the ball,” McLeod said.

"But we're ready for that. We've talked about what we need to do off the ball.

"It is about patience, discipline, communication and self-belief.

"We need to work hard in defence and believe we can take our chances when they are there.”

If Grammar advances they will face Newcastle High or Westfields Sports in the final.

Originally published as Grammar confident ahead of Bill Turner Cup clash