No qualms for champs in Kokopo

COMPETITION pace-setters Bintangor Goroka Lahanis are unfazed about Agmark Rabaul Gurias sacking of three key players and the myth of Kalabond when they open the second round of the Digicel Cup in Kokopo on Sunday.
They know better than to fall for such talk as prior to last week’s match against SNS Port Moresby Vipers, media reports ruled out Vipers skipper and five-eighth Peter Paulus who surprisingly flew to Goroka and played a blinder despite the Vipers’ shocking 36-6 loss.
This week, Gurias coach Michael Marum announced that he had stood down three regular starters due to non-performance and replaced them with untried talent.
The Lahanis are treating it all as  a beat-up and are only focused on executing their game plan at the ground dubbed the “graveyard”.
Coach Peter Danga, the brain behind the Lahanis’ grand final win last year is taking the cautious approach and has demanded that players shed any complacency that might be creeping into their game.
 He named an unchanged side that sucked the venom out of the Vipers the previous Sunday.
Youngsters like offensive-minded centre Thompson Teteh and prop Gonzellex Urakusie  are expected to continue their dazzling form on Sunday.
Teteh leads the try tally with 15 touch downs and is tipped to get a the call up from selectors. Veterans Tony Dai, Nicko Uile, Limu Willie, Glen Nami (c), Elvis Dick, John Ame, Wesley Mohokule, Steven Mandakai, Yappa Kapu, Andrew Naikabam and Mark Yamuje have been destructive in the forwards so far and should tear the Gurias defence.
In the backline Joseph Peter, Casey Frank and Walter Hasu should play their part to see centre Chris Hogi and Teteh linking with wingers Kingsley Jaggie and Spirrow Mikaive.
Last Sunday’s Joe Bulhage man-of-the-match winner and fullback Adex Wera was a tormentor for the Vipers and a repeat dose should be included for the Gurias if he is not contained.
Utilities George Abba, Dickson Pitu, Thomas Malai and Joe Pipi should come off the bench to bolster the Lahanis.
Gurias will have rugged prop Kot Kerowa leading the pack and assisted by utility Jeffrey Vineval and hooker Sakias Kabange.
The battle of tactics between two of the competition’s best coaches will be a highlight.
For the Gurias, urged on by the home crowd, it will be a case of keeping the error count down and stopping the vaunted Lahanis pack from building momentum and unleashing their dangerous backs.