NIRRANDA is confident injured pair Gary Robinson and Grayden Russell will line up in the Warrnambool and District league preliminary final on Saturday.
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Robinson suffered a hamstring scare and Russell hurt his ankle in the Blues’ first semi-final win over Kolora-Noorat.
Blues coach Shane Threlfall said the diagnosis for both players was not as severe as first thought.
“They’re both more likely than not to play,” he said.
“They’re certainly not ruled out now which I thought they might be.
“Gary cramped in his hamstring but we were certain it didn’t go because he went back and kicked a goal.
“He stayed out there and was stretching it, so we just got him off because we were worried it was a hamstring.
“He’s never done one before, so he wasn’t sure.”
Threlfall said the pair would have to train on Thursday night.
But he believes both will be named for the preliminary final and given until the last minute to prove their fitness for the cut-throat clash at Reid Oval.
Threlfall said both players were important to the Blues’ structure.
Robinson has kicked 47 goals from 11 games in 2016.
The experienced full-forward had five majors to his name before he was subbed out late against the Power.
Injury has limited hard-running defender Russell to six senior appearances after crossing from reigning premier Dennington in the off-season.
Nirranda is vying for its first grand final appearance since in 17 years.