SOUTH Warrnambool expects premiership co-captain Danny Finn to be fit for Saturday's clash against the undefeated Camperdown after he was a late withdrawal from the side that defeated Cobden under lights.
Finn did not play in South's 25-point win over Cobden on Saturday night because of a calf strain but assistant coach Adam Matheson said the classy utility should prove his fitness this week.
The Roosters are adopting a different race-week preparation, training tomorrow night and Thursday morning, with all players selected in the senior squad to attend a compulsory session on Friday night.
Matheson said the Roosters were pleased to claim victory 11.8 (74) to 7.7 (49) in an arm-wrestle with Cobden.
"It was pretty tough," Matheson said.
"To come down here against their best team for the year with the three Dares in it and win was pleasing.
"In a season where it's going to be pretty tight, every week you are going to be scrounging ways to win. Next week we play Camperdown and it will be another tough game."
Matheson said it was a game played between half-backs but the Roosters started to get on top in the third quarter at the stoppages.
"We got a couple of goals up and then they got one back so it was only seven points the difference at three-quarter-time. We didn't take enough advantage of winning the stoppages."
He said the Roosters adopted a more direct approach in the final term.
Halfway through the last quarter the Bombers were within one point but the Roosters broke away late.
Matheson said the Roosters tightened up after half-time and reduced the number of uncontested marks the Bombers took. They also laid 110 tackles for the night.
The match was the first for former Carlton draftee Joe Dare with the Bombers and he didn't disappoint, being elusive across half-back and a prolific ball-winner in the midfield, using his exquisite skills to his team's advantage.
Cobden coach Wayne Robertson said the Bombers were naturally disappointed to lose.
"But we were still pretty pleased with patches," he said.
grbest@standard.fairfax.com.au
