Before dreaming of next weekend the two sides meet at Dookie for the season’s penultimate clash on Saturday afternoon.
Shepparton East will be forced into at least two changes after the side sustained multiple injuries in last weekend’s elimination final victory over Murchison-Toolamba.
Eagles coach Rob Osborne is understandably excited by the prospect, with last year’s preliminary final marking the end of Shepparton East’s run.
“It’s a massive game, massive reward for this one,” Osborne said.
“(If) we get a win here then there’s good stuff waiting at the end of this game.
“We copped a couple of injuries last week, but we believe (Nagambie) has as well, so we will go in as full strength as we can be.”
Shepparton East would surely fancy its chances should it advance, having played the spoiler of what would have been a perfect Lancaster season with a narrow five-point triumph in round two.
Meanwhile, Nagambie was utterly dominant the last time it ran into the Eagles, running away with a 90-point belting on home soil in round 13.
To Osborne, though, neither of these form sheets will significantly affect their current task.
“They (Lancaster) had a few good players out that day, so we’re not looking too far ahead,” Osborne said.
“We’ve got a massive challenge ahead and we need to break through Nagambie to have a crack at them.
“We lost (to Nagambie) by 89 points away last year, then beat them at home (by 134 points) three weeks later.
“We don’t like playing Nagambie away, but now we have them at Dookie, so the neutral crowd will help us, but we’ll need to put more effort in than last outing.”
Senior preliminary final action is scheduled for 2.15pm on Saturday at Dookie Recreation Reserve.
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