TAREE will play the first of three Coastal Premier League football mid-week games tonight (Wednesday) when the Wildcats tackle second placed Port Saints at the Taree Zone Field.
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Reserve grade will start at 6pm with first grade at 8pm.
There was some doubt about the fixture going ahead following steady rain last weekend. However, Taree coach Ben Sedlen has been assured the field is good condition for the match.
Coastal Premier League (CPL) competition administrator and Football Mid North Coast general manager Bruce Potter explained mid-week fixtures are vital for the inaugural season.
"For three months of this year's competition we're playing one mid-week round. This was done with the blessing of the clubs to ensure we had a full season of regular competition,'' he said.
"Eighteen rounds mean each side players each other twice, so at the end of it the premiers are the indisputable premiers."
The Wildcats will be again be without star goal keeper Curtis Jones, who has a badly injured a finger.
Jones missed Taree's 3-0 loss to Macleay Valley last Saturday. Dylan Webber, who was among Taree's best against the Rangers, is again expected to take Jones's place in goals.
Matt Collier is another casualty from the Rangers clash after suffering a knee injury.
Sedlen said Port Saints shape as another major test for his side.
Saints have three wins and a loss from four games and trail Macleay Valley by a point on the competition ladder.
"Apparently Roan Whitman has been scoring a few goals for them, so we'll have to watch him,'' Sedlen said.
Whitman was formerly a mainstay of powerful Wallis Lakes sides in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League.
The Wildcats head north on Saturday to meet the formidable Boambee. This will end what has been a testing week for the club.