![PACESETTERS: Mushies will aim to remain undefeated this season when they meet Kootingal on Saturday. Photo: Peter Hardin PACESETTERS: Mushies will aim to remain undefeated this season when they meet Kootingal on Saturday. Photo: Peter Hardin](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/7181e638-90b5-4c98-9768-6d2230ae3400.jpg/r210_0_1017_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Oxley Vale Attunga will be out to extend their margin at the top of the table when they meet Kootingal at Riverside 3 on Saturday.
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It has been a disrupted fortnight for OVA, with a similar wet weather sentiment shared across the competition.
Last weekend's matches were rained out, while the week prior was a schedule bye weekend for the Queen's birthday.
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"Our focus has been on trying to keep match fitness, with all the breaks between games," OVA coach Tim Coates said.
Coates said the reigning premiers were keen "to get some miles in our legs as we have very disrupted schedules with weeks on and off, due to byes and National Primary games break also".
Saturday's clash, he continued, will be won or lost in the midfield.
Kootingal have been luckless so far this season and are in last place on two points.
At the Geoff Morgan Fields on Saturday, second-placed Gunnedah FC host Moore Creek.
Gunnnedah coach Andy Cygan is wary of his sixth-placed opponent.
"It is always a tough game against Moore Creek," he said. "They are physical and work very hard for one another.
"They will be fired up with Andre Caetano and Dean Hoy leading them."
Gunnedah FC's quest for three points has been made more difficult by the loss of their influential international contingent of Bruno Perroni, Bautista Burgos and Karl-Lembit Usta.
The trio have left the region due to work commitments.
"We have a few injuries, which won't help, but ['we're] hoping for a win after a few poor results," Cygan said.
"If we win, we will go 10 points ahead of them [Moore Creek]. But if they beat us, they will only be four points behind [us]."
In the weekend's other match, South United face Tamworth FC at Gipps Street.
Souths coach Darrel Mole said: "I think the teams will be pretty evenly matched and that it will come down to which team can maintain their discipline and use the ball effectively when in possession."
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