Josh Waight’s side is currently in rampaging form with a 3-1 record and sits joint second in the standings, but United has carried its division two championship blueprint into the current tier, sporting two wins and a loss.
Gators captain Matt Bartlett is wary of the threat Gippsland poses, but is bullish about extending his side’s run this weekend.
“We’re hoping to have a pretty good crack at it on Saturday against a pretty good team in Gippsland,” Bartlett said.
“I know they’ve got an import who’s a big, and they’ve got a really good passing local as well … so those two good quality bigs who have mostly guards around them like to get up and down the floor reasonably well.
“We’re probably a little bit opposite, we’re a bit bigger, so it’ll be a bit of a ‘bigs against smalls’ type scenario.”
Gippsland import Oliver Amajoyi, who ranks high amongst the league’s best blockers, is one of the danger men Bartlett is wary of.
However, Amajoyi has the stern assignment of nullifying his countryman in new Gators sensation Derek Murphy, whose 29-point cameo against Chelsea killed off any doubt he’s the real deal.
Murphy, alongside Kiwi sharpshooter Josh Kooiman, have arrived with a bang while the existing group of Gators has shown it’s keen to back up last year’s title tilt in 2023.
“We’ve kept the core group of guys in general with Nick Dodd, myself, Sam Beks, Tom Frame, Ian Wright and Matt Andronicos and we’ve added some pieces in Staci Richardson and Lachy Kego,” Bartlett said.
“They’ve been around our club a little bit before this year, so they’ve been a really easy fit.
“Josh (Kooiman) has been able to fit in seamlessly, he was probably well aware of what he was getting himself into because Dylan (former import Dylan Wilkie) gave him a good rundown.
“Derek (Murphy) has fit in really well with the group and he’s really enjoying being here as well.”
The Gators will be without Dodd, who is currently interstate, while Frame is sidelined with a calf injury.
Richardson is also in doubt due to sickness.
With another packed crowd expected to fill Shepparton Sports Stadium on Saturday night, Bartlett only had one message for the fans.
“Get down there, we’ve been packing out the arena and the crowd has been amazing this season. We’re just trying to keep on the roll.”
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