THE build-up is over, the selection quandaries sorted and now it is down to business for Souths as they try to push deep into the women’s Premier League Hockey semi-finals.

Tomorrow at the Cooke Hockey Complex Souths will host Lithgow Zig Zag in the minor semi-final.

The loser will bow out for season 2014 and for Souths especially that would seem like a waste of a promising year.

Coach Damien Carter made no secret of his desire for the two blues to finish in the top three and get an automatic second chance. 

There is no hiding the fact that it still grates on him that they did not achieve it.

“The game that Bathurst City were given after St Pat’s beat them with an unregistered player ended up costing us third,” he said.

“We can’t do anything about it, but we felt like we had done enough to deserve a spot in the top three. 

“That’s life though, now we have to turn up and make sure we get the job done this week.”

Since round one the theme for the two blues has been making sure they get to the finals to ensure that they have a chance to field their best team and push for a title.

A full-strength Souths team will finally get on the Cooke Hockey Complex turf at the same time, apart from Ash Corby who will return next week if they make it that far.

The idea of a forward line including both Sarah and Jess Watterson, Tahlia Cranston, Kate Dooley and Emma Siejka has the coach excited.

Maddy Boyce will also come back in after starring for NSW Country at the Australian Country Championships.

There is no shortage of versatility on the bench with Mandy George, Cait Hadley and Kate Stanford all expected to cover a number of positions when required.

Carter wants them to throw everything they possibly can against a Zig Zag team who will be confident after upsetting Bathurst City last weekend.

“We finished 4-all in Lithgow and we beat them comfortably here, so I know that our best will be good enough to handle them,” he said.

“We have speed up front, we have skill. I don’t want us to use those stupid long balls up to the front, I want us to move it quickly when we can and take our time at the back when we need to.

“During the week we did a lot of work on our short corners, Zig Zag are very physical and are the sort of team who will give a short corner away rather than allow a clean shot in play. If we convert at 50 per cent it would be great.

“It will be a nice problem to have next week if we make it and Ash comes back into the side, it will be a battle to fit everyone in.

“Zig Zag do have some dangerous players, [ex-Souths player] Keely Hunter and a couple of the others are dangerous, but I expect us to win and I think we’ll be playing Bathurst City next week. I think Parkes will beat them.”

Souths take on Zig Zag tomorrow from 3.20pm.