TAREE coach Josh Ferris believes this season's Football Mid North Coast Premier League is the most open in recent years.
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He said results from last weekend's round, where last placed Port Saints knocked over co-leaders Camden Haven while Port FC accounted for the other co-leader, Wallis Lake, shows this.
Three sides Wallis Lake, Camden Haven and Port United currently lead the competition with Taree one point away.
Perennial powerhouse, Macleay Valley, are well down the ladder, however, Ferris can't see them staying there.
"They'll hit a patch of form,'' he said.
He also believes Wingham will make a charge to the top five.
"I rate Wingham,'' he said.
The Wildcats came away from the clash against United last week with a draw. Given the players he had unavailable Ferris was reasonably happy to take some points home.
"But by the end of first grade I was a bit disappointed we didn't get the three points for a win,'' he said.
The Wildcats will be close to full strength for tomorrow's game against Camden Haven at Taree. Ferris is wary of playing the Redbacks after they've come off a loss.
"I don't know what happened there if they had players away because they've been going pretty well this year,'' he said.
Mitch Newnham was a late withdrawal last week because of sickness for Taree. He'll slot straight back into the side tomorrow.
Work commitments will mean Cody Chick will only be available for the second half so he'll be a fresh reserve. Rhys Christensen had to play reserve grade and first grade last week because the Wildcats were short, so he'll be used exclusively in first grade tomorrow.
The Wildcats are unbeaten with three draws and two wins from the five games.
"We're going better than I expected considering the pre-season we had,'' Ferris said.
"I thought it would take us five to six weeks to start hitting our straps so that's happened quicker than I thought.''
Ferris said another positive for the Wildcats was the improved form of striker Ricky Campbell against United.
"He's been a bit below his best, even though he's been scoring a few goals,'' Ferris said.
"But that was his best game of the season last week.''