Mareeba Gladiators player-coach Rod Jensen is warning his players to be wary of a wounded Atherton Roosters side ahead of their Bendigo Bank CDRL A Grade Round 9 derby clash this weekend.

The Tablelands rivals go head-to-head for the first time in 2013 this Saturday (7pm kick-off) at Atherton Showground after experiencing vastly different fortunes so far this year.

While the Gladiators have impressed under new coach Jensen to surge into fourth spot on the CDRL ladder, the Roosters are bottom and still searching for their first win of the season.

But Jensen knows the form book will go out of the window for the fiercely-contested Tablelands derby.

“Footy’s footy, and local derbies always bring more out of players, so we need to prepare properly for what will be a very tough and brutal clash,” said Jensen.

“I have mentioned to the boys about not dropping our guard – we’ve talked about Yarrabah earlier in the season, when we were lucky to beat them when they’d lost by 70 the previous week.

“Atherton will be targeting this game to turn their season around, and use it as a springboard to register a few more wins.

“Personally, I’ve never played in a Tablelands derby, but I know there is a lot of rivalry and it should be a great match.”

A mouth-watering clash between second and third place is anticipated at Tully Showground when Tully Tigers take on Southern Suburbs on Saturday night.

The Tigers sit third on the CDRL ladder, just two competition points behind leaders Kangaroos, and will be looking to leapfrog Billy Beard’s high-flying Suburbs side, who put 70 points on Atherton last weekend.

Reigning premiers Brothers face another tricky road trip this Saturday as they bid to get their 2013 campaign up and running.

The Brethren have won just three of their seven matches this season, and face a Mossman-Port Douglas side brimming with confidence on their home patch.

The Sharks have won all three of their games at Mossman Showground this season, and will fancy their chances of another upset.

Innisfail will be targeting a much needed win when they host Ivanhoes at Callendar Park, also on Saturday.

The Leprechauns are second from bottom after just two wins, while the Knights are well placed in fifth spot, just four points off the pace.

The only game of the round on Sunday sees leaders Kangaroos host in-form Yarrabah at Vico Oval.

Roos will be confident of securing yet another win, but come up against an in-form Seahawks outfit, who have won three of their last four games.

Edmonton Storm have a bye.
 
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade – ROUND 9
Saturday 11 May
Tully v Suburbs, 6pm KO (Tully Showground)
Atherton v Mareeba, 7pm KO (Atherton Showground)
Innisfail v Ivanhoes, 7pm KO (Callendar Park)
Mossman v Brothers, 7pm KO (Mossman Showground)

Sunday 12 May
Kangaroos v Yarrabah, 3pm KO (Vico Oval)

BYE – Edmonton