Warners Bay coach Craig Atkins was wary of a wounded Mid Coast as they prepared for a crucial weekend double-header of Newcastle Herald Women's Premier League in Taree.
The Panthers, who are fifth on 22 points, snapped a four-match losing streak last weekend with a 5-1 win over last-placed New Lambton (3) to stay in touch with fourth-placed Maitland (24) and third-placed Adamstown (25).
Warners Bay play Mid Coast on Saturday in a rescheduled match from round three then the two sides back up on Sunday in round 17 while Adamstown and Maitland trade blows at Cooks Square Park.
Mid Coast are coming off a 10-0 loss to Adamstown but only went down 1-0 when they last met the Panthers.
Atkins was encouraged to see a more clinical effort from his charges last weekend with four different players getting on the score sheet. Elodie Dagg bagged a double and Lilly-Jane Babic, Georgia Cook and Mia Cook also scored.
"Last weekend's performance was building and, hopefully with a similar side on the park, we can deliver a similar performance if not a better one," Atkins said.
"The girls know the importance of it. If we can go there and grab six points, you know that we come back and we're in pretty good stead towards that back end of the season.
"But they've come off a heavy defeat and that can be dangerous."
Adamstown are yet to beat Maitland in two previous exchanges but are unbeaten in their past three outings. The Magpies won 6-2 in their first encounter then 2-1 after producing a last-minute winner last time.
Leia Puxty will return to the starting side after missing Rosebud's past three games. Puxty lives on the Central Coast but has self-isolated with her grandparents in Nelson Bay for two weeks and trained with Rosebud for the first time in over one month on Thursday night.
Opposing coaches Ryan Campbell (Adamstown) and Keelan Hamilton (Maitland) both told the Newcastle Herald they were expecting a challenging fixture with plenty on the line.
"Whoever wins puts themselves in a good position of being that third or fourth team," Campbell said. "The loser then probably has to fight off Warners Bay for the other spot."
Maitland are coming off a 5-1 win over Charlestown Azzurri. The Magpies led Azzurri 4-0 at half-time after a ruthless first-half performance.
"Adamstown have done OK in recent weeks and will have a bit of confidence about them," Hamilton said. "There's a fair bit to play for and we expect them to play well and we know we're going to have to play well to match them.
"I think we lost our way a little bit in the second half last weekend. When you're on top in games you want to go on with the job."
Second-placed Newcastle Olympic (39) will look to bounce back from a 5-1 loss to now leaders Broadmeadow (40) when they play New Lambton at Alder Park on Saturday.
The Eagles will be without new recruit Sophie Nenadovic after she sustained an ankle injury against Warners Bay. Teammates Izzy Winter and Brooke Miller were also under injury clouds.
Olympic coach Harmonie Attwill hoped for the return of experienced midfielder and leader Laura Hall from illness after she was a last-minute withdrawal last round. Goalkeeper Natalie Wiseman copped a head knock in the round-16 match but has been cleared to play this weekend.
Attwill said it was not panic stations after losing to Broadmeadow.
"It's not a bad thing to lose and you've just got to take it in stride," Attwill said.
"It's only the second game we've lost all season. There's no need to dwell on it too much. We'll just be looking to improve on what we were not that great at last time."
All games are at 3.40pm.
Magic played sixth-placed Charlestown on Friday night.
