The first grade Sea Eagles are staring down a do-or-die contest with the Pambula Panthers in Merimbula on Saturday. 

However, captain Luke Taylor said it was good to see four club players acknowledged in the honours roll picked by SCAFL officials. 

Dean Gartside, Louis Coulton, Troy O’Loghlin and Taylor himself were all included in the squad, named during the Sapphire Coast AFL presentation evening at the Merimbula RSL Club. 

Players named featured heavily in the forward pack, while in contrast Pambula also had four players named, but largely out of the half-back and back lines. 

Captain Luke Taylor said they were not under any illusion the Panthers would be a pushover, but said Tathra were running with good momentum and confident ahead of the weekend. 

The Sea Eagles have enjoyed a week off to rest any niggling injuries with the team now at full strength ahead of the weekend. 

Meanwhile, the Panthers had an exhaustive and bruising encounter with the Lions in the major semi-final, where they went down by a solitary goal. 

There is no denying Pambula’s recent form, but Tathra has been hitting a purple patch in the middle and that will be where the match is won or lost. 

The Sea Eagles are backing their ruckman Rick Spink to get the ball clear, where Troy O’Loghlin and Chris Dwyer are some of the best in the league at getting it forward.

Tathra are also looking for a good result in the development grade as the Eagles take on the Lions for a chance to play Pambula in the grand final. 

The Eagles will look to Craig Matthews as a force to be reckoned with in the middle, while Callum Thompson, Kevin Dixon and Kiah Beruldsen have also been solid in recent outings. 

Whoever goes through will need to pull out something special with the Pambula reserves running undefeated ahead of the ultimate round. 

Meanwhile, Tathra have already earned their place in the women’s grand final with a 100-point thumping of Eden. 

The Sea Eaglettes will wait eagerly to see the result between the Whalers and Pambula Panthers to determine who they will front up to in the grand final.

The club is encouraging everyone to head along and cheer on the teams.  

The Sapphire Coast AFL preliminary finals will be held on Saturday at Merimbula’s Berrambool Oval. 

Senior play goes ahead from 11.50am, while first bounce in seniors is at 2.30pm.