"If he comes, good on him, I hope he's got a thick skin."
The depth of feeling was summed up in Eli Fleming's written message on the dressing room whiteboard after City reversed their 8-1 loss to Massey in the last League round, which preceded Joblin-Hall's departure, by beating the same side 3-2 seven days later in the Federation Cup without him or four other injured players.
"Shame, Chops," it read, referencing their former team mate's nickname.
"He leaves, and we win," Francis added.
Nonetheless, if City have only one target today then they will be handing their reinforced opposition an easy victory, as Marist have game breakers across the park and can adjust their style midmatch.
Lee Rufer is coming off a hat trick against Athletic, and both he and fellow goal scorer Robbie Yule would relish a little extra room if someone else is being singled out for special attention.
Meanwhile, Francis won't have the likes of Tom Dixon and Ben Hussey, who stepped up to fill the breech in the Cup game, while club stalwart Chris Annabell has confirmed he'll play his 12.30pm fixture for the City Hammers before rejoining the 1sts bench.
"It's fantastic to have him, he's got the experience of the highest level, he never gives up," said Francis.
Alex Judd-Nutall's knee injury has recovered enough to sit on the bench, but it's almost ceremonial as Francis will not use him if possible, while Kyle Graham-Luke (achilles) is training again but still at least a week away.
Francis said they tossed up a few ideas about changing game plans for Marist, perhaps trying to hit them hard early, but without Graham-Luke or enough depth behind the starters, they just have to play the hand they're dealt.
"The plan is to see how [Marist] respond to frustration. Get back behind the ball and break quickly.
"We know what we're in for, they're full of fantastic players.
"The weather report is not meant to be great. Wet weather football is always different."
Fresh off a two-week baptism of fire against Marist in both League and Cup, Athletic (2-1-2) have a change of pace when they head south to Memorial Park today to face the winless Red Sox (0-1-4).
Athletic took it to Marist last weekend, but blinked just after halftime and were made to pay to the tune of three quick goals.
"We just have to make sure when we come out at halftime we are the ones that come out fighting," said coach Jason King.
"We've been trying to absorb the storm, rather than beating the storm.
"Nine goals in the game is nothing to be ashamed of, we were just not on the positive side of the ledger."
With only one player illness to worry about, King is expecting all of his starting lineup to be ready, and may decide to start some of his regular bench if he sees the right kind of enthusiasm in the warmup.
"[Red Sox] are a team that tend to use a lot more of their players in defence than attack.
"The challenge is to take the game to them.
"We've just got to batter at the gates. Take the frustrations from the Marist game to them."
Both matches start at 2.45pm.
In the Horizons Premiership, the GJ Gardner Homes Wanganui Athletic Reserves (1-4) are off to Skoglund Park to meet the PN Marist Reserves (2-2), kickoff 2.45pm, while tomorrow in the GR Engineering Women's Federation, Football Whanganui are home at Wembley to Massey University, also a 2.45pm kickoff.
