SOUTHS have their fate in their own hands as they take to Bob Roach Field this afternoon looking to finally secure third position on the women’s Premier League Hockey ladder with a win over strugglers Lithgow Zig Zag.

The two blues are level with fourth-placed Ex-Services on points, but are in third thanks to their marginally better for and against (plus 10 to plus eight). 

To ensure they stay in third, and earn the double chance come finals time that a top three position brings with it, Souths must beat Zig Zag this afternoon.

They have the bye in next week’s last round, so the Bathurst team wants to get the job done today rather than relying on other results to go their way next Saturday.

If Souths are able to get a big win, and stretch their goal difference to plus 15 or more, it would make Ex-Services’ task of leapfrogging them almost impossible if they drop their own game today.

Ex-Services play league leaders Lithgow Panthers in Lithgow at 3.50pm today and go into that contest as distinct underdogs.

“Ex-Services have the graveyard shift over there in Lithgow, so it would help us a lot if they were to lose,” Souths coach Melissa Bestwick said.

“At training this week in speaking to the girls, I stressed the importance of making sure that if, or when, we get on top in this match, we can’t back off. We have to really go in for the kill.

“Goal difference could be the thing that keeps us in third, so it is huge for us to make the most of any opportunity.”

Zig Zag have had a year to forget after making a finals appearance less than 12 months ago.

They started the season reasonably in terms of competitiveness, but have dropped off alarmingly to the point where they trail Confederates in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

To date Zig Zag boast only one win. Last time the two sides met, Souths prevailed 2-0.

“We can’t really read too much into what they’ve done, because really you’re only ever a week away from your worst or best performance. Who knows what will happen if we turn up and are below our best?” Bestwick said.

“We can’t just expect to beat them, or just to turn up and hope results go our way.”

As far as their line-up goes, Souths will be almost at full strength, with Nikki Braun the only absentee as she continues to recover from a grade one tear in her calf. 

She should be back in time for the semi-finals.

After a general bye last week, a potentially one-sided game today and another bye next Saturday, Bestwick admits that there is a degree of fear that her side might be a bit off the pace when the semis-finals roll around.

As a consequence, she is working her side hard on the training track.

“It is a bit of a concern and even as a player I can remember similar situations where you’d be worried you didn’t have enough hockey under the belt going into the bigger games,” she said.

“We are already planning for it though, so the attitude is definitely helping us deal with that problem.”

Souths meet Zig Zag from 1.50pm this afternoon.