Last spots in CTPL finals to be decided when action in final round begins

A home semi-final awaits the winner of South Hobart-Sandy Bay’s clash with Clarence, while the loser could find themselves out of the top four by the end of the round.

Simon Milenko will play for South Hobart-Sandy Bay against Clarence after being dropped from the Shield team. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

IT could be boom or bust for South Hobart-Sandy Bay and Clarence in their blockbuster CTPL clash to round out the roster season starting today.

The two sides are separated by a single point heading into the final round, with the victor likely to secure hosting rights for the semi-finals in a fortnight.

Defeat also potentially comes with a higher price — the prospect of sliding outside the top four and missing finals completely.

In a thrilling finish to the home and away fixture, the Sharks and Roos are chasing one of three available spots in the finals alongside Kingborough (fourth) and North Hobart (fifth).

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South-Sandy captain Sean Willis is well aware of the stakes, with his side already handed a small victory with Simon Milenko to be available after being dropped from Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield at the expense of Roo Lawrence Neil-Smith.

“There is obviously five teams that have played some good cricket all year so the pressure is on, knowing if we lose we can be out but if we win we can get a home semi-final, so it’s very enticing,” Willis said.

Sean Willis in action for the Sharks. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“Cricket Tas were looking pretty fondly on us in giving us Milenko and taking Neil-Smith from Clarence which helps.

“But obviously we know how good [Dan] Salpietro has been going, he can take a game away from you in a session and Harry Allanby is due for a big score, we just hope it’s not against us this weekend.”

While the two sides slug it out at Queenborough, Kingborough faces the task of knocking off minor premier Lindisfarne to secure finals action. The Knights jumped back into the top four after outlasting Glenorchy last week, and will look to carry that momentum into the showdown at Twin Ovals.

North Hobart — which slid from second to fourth after falling at the hands of Lindisfarne — will be favoured to knock off New Town to remain in the hunt, while the remaining match is University v the Pies.