Thistle without several key players

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Thistle will be several men down when they play Central Federation League leaders Napier City Rovers Feds in Hawke’s Bay tomorrow.

Centreback Matt Smith aggravated a calf injury in the 1-1 draw with Taradale last week, midfielder Cory Thomson picked up an ankle injury in training last night and striker Campbell Hall is away.

And with a Chatham Cup game on Tuesday, away to Papakura, the Jags’ playing stocks could be sorely tested if any more injuries occur tomorrow.

Cyclone-induced travel and work difficulties have curtailed the team involvement of midfielder Matt McVey, a policeman stationed at Ruatoria. But this weekend he is overseas on a trip arranged well before things turned upside-down on the Coast.

Jarom Brouwer, an influential figure in midfield and attack last season, is playing for Wainui Demons this season. His work as a police dog handler made his availability for away matches uncertain.

But Thistle have plenty of players in the wings, waiting for a chance to shine.

Speedy winger Oska Smith is available now that the surf lifesaving season has wound down, while Daniel Venema and Ander Batarrita have plenty of experience at this level.

Coach Garrett Blair is likely to change from last week’s 3-5-2 formation to a 4-3-3 line-up. That will mean a heavier workload for the midfield three but opportunities for the fullbacks to overlap and link up with a numerically stronger forward line.

Nick Land is set to move from left wingback to midfield, allowing Batarrita to take the leftback slot. Sam Patterson will move from wingback to rightback.