THE irony of the situation is not lost on West Wallsend coach Chris Miner.
For years Miner worked hard as coach to build South Cardiff's semi-final chances, but tomorrow he aims to orchestrate the Gunners' downfall at Ulinga Oval.
The Bluebells and the Gunners clash twice in the next four days. They have a deferred match to play on Wednesday night at Johnson Park.
The Gunners sit in fifth spot on 24 points after a 2-0 loss against Edgeworth on Wednesday night ended their six-match winning streak. West Wallsend are sixth with 21.
If either side can dominate the two games, it will likely end the other's semi-finals chances.
"It's just ironic that it's come down to us versus them," Miner said.
"I'm happy they're in that situation because they've been there for a few years now, but I need to put that aside and think where I am now and the job at hand we've got."
Miner said he expected two very different games, although the matches were only four days apart.
"I know it's the same opposition in four days, but as over the last three or four weeks each weekend takes a different turn and we've just got to get through Sunday, reassess how everyone else has gone," he said.
"But saying that, the two South Cardiff games are a major chance to put ourselves right in there."
In round two the Bluebells stole a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Gunners at Ulinga Oval.
The Gunners could be ripe for the picking again with injuries and suspensions decimating the side.
Left back Joel Witherdin was yesterday suspended for seven days for abusing Valentine Phoenix ballgirl Selena Law on July 11 and will miss both West Wallsend games and central defender Mitchell Cook will miss tomorrow's match after picking up his fourth yellow card against Edgeworth on Wednesday.
Striker Jason Korotkich has an ankle injury and goalkeeper Mark Wright is in doubt.
Come Wednesday night, the Gunners will have played four games in 11 days.
"Any week when you play consecutive games against the same team it is not only physically tough but mentally tough," Gunners coach Steve Piggott said.
Piggott believes the final make-up of the top four is far from decided, but said the next two games were vital for West Wallsend.
"It's not easy to play someone within a couple of days of each other, and there's no hiding anything from Chris Miner," he said.
"It'll be a tough game, no game in this league is easy, and they've certainly had the wood on us."
Another match to have a huge bearing on the top four tomorrow is between third-placed Hamilton (24) and leaders Edgeworth (32) at Darling Street.
Weston could provide serious nuisance value for Broadmeadow at Wanderers Oval tomorrow and Phoenix host Toronto-Awaba at Cahill Oval.
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