A depleted Maitland will turn to their support cast when they try to bounce back from grand final defeat to take on Devonport in the NPL play-offs on Saturday at Cooks Square Park.
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As premiers of the NNSW NPL for the first time, the Magpies will represent the region in the national finals. NNSW drew Tasmania, which puts Maitland up against Devonport Strikers, who lost just two games in 24 to win their competition.
While Maitland lost 2-0 to Edgeworth in the NNSW grand final last Sunday after a draining 3-3 tie against Broadmeadow, Devonport are coming off a two-week break.
The Tasmanian league does not have semi-finals, and Devonport last played in the final round, which they lost 2-0 to South Hobart with top spot already secured.
Adding to Maitland's hectic schedule will be the absence of Mat Swan, Joel Wood, Grant Brown and Nick Cowburn.
Swan, who missed the grand final, is still overseas, while Wood and Brown are now also away. Cowburn has work commitments.
Coach Mick Bolch said the match will give players like Alex Read and Sean Pratt, who often starred off the bench in the Magpies' run to the premiership, a chance to shine.
"They will get starts after warming the bench for us and doing well this year," Bolch said.
"They will want to grab it with both hands and put a case forward for next year. They have already re-signed and they all want to be starting players next year.
"It's just getting back up after the disappointment of last weekend."
Maitland missed early opportunities against Edgeworth at Magic Park last Sunday before the Eagles finished the stronger, scoring twice in the last 10 minutes.
Bolch was expecting another tough match against Devonport, who have an excellent record on the national stage in the FFA Cup.
"I've watched a fair few of their games and they are a very good side," Bolch said.
"Last year, they knocked Northcote City out of the FFA Cup.
"This year they got knocked out in the final minutes to not get through to the round of 32, but the previous two years they made it to the last 16 by beating Victorian teams, so they've definitely got some talent down there."
The Strikers won 20 games, scoring 91 goals and conceding just 23, in their league this year.
Miles Barnard finished with 28 goals, including a haul of eight in one match, while midfielder Joel Stone scooped the individuals awards in the competition.
Bolch said left-sided attacker Max Fitzgerald, who scored 12 goals, "looks pretty sharp as well".
Kick-off is 1pm.
Devonport are known to the NNSW NPL after beating Lambton Jaffas 1-0 in torrential rain in the cup's round of 32 in 2016. Former Broadmeadow keeper Niko Giantsopoulos also came from the Strikers.