Bendigo Bank Cats coach Leigh Tudor does not believe the Cats could be any better placed heading into Saturday’s preliminary final blockbuster against North Ballarat at TEAC Oval.

Tudor confirmed Nathan Djerrkura and Kane Tenace would return from injury this week, maintained the Cats are better equipped than last season to advance through to next weekend’s grand final.

He said the Cats’ week’s rest could be definitive in the outcome of the match, especially after the Roosters last week battled it out in a physical contest against a desperate Sandringham.

“To watch North Ballarat and Sandringham bash each other up last week at Port Melbourne, I was really glad that our players had just finished a structured training run in the morning, where we had no injuries and just did what we needed to do,” Tudor said.

“They’ve (North Ballarat) had another four-quarter game, so I would like to think that late in the quarters we can run hard.

“I think it’s a great thing, the week off definitely helps, so I think we’re in a better stage than last year just because of that reason – we’re a lot fresher.”

Tenace will return to the side after overcoming a six-week hamstring tear, while Djerrkura is poised to return after enduring a nightmare run with a recurring quad injury.

Djerrkura, who has only played seven matches in his debut season, will start on the bench after playing only one match over three months.

Despite a finals qualification loophole enabling the Cats to field any AFL-listed player who has played at least one VFL match for the season, Tudor said the Cats would not exploit the anomaly.

He said the Cats would field “exactly the same” team as they would have if the AFL side was playing this weekend.

The loophole will enable the Cats to play Travis Varcoe, who was dropped from the side last week, despite him having not qualified.

“They’re enormous again, we’ll need them to give every ounce they can again like they have in the past few weeks, but that’s why they’re the ones playing, because they do that,” Tudor said.

North Ballarat announced itself as a legitimate premiership player with an emphatic come-from-behind elimination final victory over the Bendigo Bombers two weeks ago.

Nine goals down entering the third quarter, the Roosters kicked 17 of the last 20 goals, including an 11-goal-to-none final quarter obliteration, to surge into the semi finals.

Against Sandringham last week, the Roosters overcame an early deficit to kick eight goals in the second quarter and cruise home to a comfortable 17-point victory.

Their victory banished the Zebras, who were on track for their fourth successive premiership, out of the finals race, bringing to an end one of the most auspicious dynasties in VFA/VFL history.

Tudor said North Ballarat was producing football of an ominous caliber and said the Roosters would be choc-a-block with confidence and momentum.

“There would be plenty of belief at North Ballarat Footy Club you would imagine, winning a game in the first final like they did was very exciting and to bring that out and beat Sandy again this year was an enormous effort. It will be game on,” he said.

“They were just very quick last week, they just moved the ball very quickly and they were very brave as well and it will be a good match.”

The match will be telecast live on ABC TV into Victoria from 1pm, and will also be broadcast live on 1611 Double X from 1pm.

Gates open at 10.30am, with the match getting underway at 1.10pm.

Entry is $15 for adults, $10 for concession and children under 15 are free.

Geelong vs. North Ballarat

B: Tim Callan – Tom Lonergan – Liam Bedford
HB: David Johnson – Matthew Spencer – Kane Tenace
C: Jason Davenport – James Byrne – Travis Varcoe
HF: Todd Grima – Henry Playfair – Charlie Gardiner
F: Simon Hogan – Tom Hawkins – Ryan Gamble
Foll: Steven King – Brent Prismall – Nathan Djerrkura
Int from: West, Thompson, Firman, Cheep, Hollmer, Barnes, Clarke, Urie