NORTH Queensland Fury face two A-League cup final-style clashes on home territory for a chance to push up the table, according to Ian Ferguson.
Ferguson has been drumming it into the players all week how important this weekend's match is against Central Coast Mariners and he's confident they'll come out firing in front of their home fans.
"It's a massive game for us. I've said this to the boys. The next two games for us are cup finals, the Mariners and Adelaide," said Ferguson.
"Two games at home, we're not travelling anywhere, we've got to try and prepare regardless of injury, regardless of players coming in. Everybody has to settle down and knuckle down and opportunities will come for people and they've got to try and take them."
Rostyn Griffiths is eagerly awaiting the chance to run onto Dairy Farmers Stadium again and knows a win would also create a piece of history for the Fury.
"That's massive for us. I think we're still coming off the back of that home win and I'm still thinking about it for sure in the back of my mind," Griffiths said.
"I'm actually looking forward again to playing at home in front of our crowd and hoping for a good crowd, especially for this weekend.
"It's an important game for us. Back to back wins at home would be massive and a first for the club as well."
Griffiths has played in Fury's makeshift defence while week after week another defender has been claimed by injury.
The 21-year -old is the first to admit he would rather be in the midfield, but at the same time, he doesn't think the back four have disgraced themselves.
"I think we've looked reasonably strong at the back in recent weeks which has been really positive for us especially with not the normal back four, an out of place back four," Griffiths said.
"But, with players like Middleby and Dodd coming back that only makes it look stronger and hopefully pushes other players back into positions where they should be."
There is a chance the pair could both be back for the Mariners clash, provided they come through the team's next two training sessions.
If Dodd and Middleby are available, Ferguson is likely to move Griffiths back to the centre of the pitch.
"That would more or less be the plan," Ferguson said. "Rostyn goes back into midfield, Dodd comes into centre-half and Middleby can go to right back."
While the Fury coach admitted it would be good to get specialised defenders back on the pitch, he had nothing but praise for the players who had stepped in for Dodd, Shane Stefanutto and Scott Wilson.
"The way we've handled things this season with injuries and everything that's been going on has been remarkable," Ferguson added.
"I've been really pleased with the boys, they've dug deep and I keep saying it it's a big credit to the players and we've just got to keep going for the next 12 games, that's what it's all about digging deep and having that belief in ourselves and I'm sure they've got that."
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