Club stalwart Jason Colli is under no illusion about the enormity of the task facing Inglewood United in order to qualify for this year’s Top Four Cup Grand Final.   Last weekend’s loss to neighbouring Bayswater City sent Inglewood down the path to play an in-form Perth SC outfit in this evening’s Preliminary Final at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.

The victor of this sudden-death encounter will book themselves a Grand Final date with Bayswater on Saturday, while for the vanquished it will be time to start planning for 2018.   Colli, who last month announced his retirement at seasons’ end, is confident it won’t be Inglewood that packs away their playing boots this evening.

“It will be a tough game against Perth,” Colli said of an opponent unbeaten in eight games.   “They are a good side and are running hot at the moment but they don’t intimidate us.   We have a strong team that believes in itself and plays good football, and if we perform at our best tonight we will come away with the win.”

From the outside it may appear Inglewood will be a little light on for the Preliminary Final with Alex Salmon (suspension), captain David Cyrus (overseas), Brian Woodall (hamstring), Kenny Keogh (suspension), Victor Brauner (calf) and John Migas (groin) all unavailable.   However, that’s not a view shared by Colli.

“They are all quality players that have played their role this season,” Colli said of his absent team mates.   “But we have a big squad with a lot of depth and made up of players that are capable of influencing games.   Tonight is an opportunity for those who may not have played a lot in the last few weeks to show what they are about.”

“Every player to pull on an Inglewood shirt this year has come in and done the job.   As a group we’ve worked hard all year and that’s put us 90 minutes away from playing in the biggest game of the year.   Everyone wants to make the season a success … we know what we have to do tonight.”

Top Four Cup, Preliminary Final

Inglewood United vs Perth SC
Wednesday 6 September @ Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off 6.30pm