Queensland Cup - Round 7 -
Preview

It?s an early call but the 2004 Queensland Cup looks like a ?nine horse race?. After six rounds it has become apparent Brothers Valleys, Ipswich and Souths Logan are going to do it tough to make the final five. Ipswich and Brothers Valleys anchor the competition with one point each from their first round draw at Bendigo Bank Oval. Brothers Valleys have been hard hit with injuries and their immediate goal is to remain competitive. This Sunday the Blues host the Central Comets at O?Callaghan Park with the Comets one of five clubs sharing fifth spot with six points from a possible 12. The other clubs on six are Norths, North Queensland, Easts and Tweed Heads. Ipswich host Tweed on Saturday night and on paper look too good a side to write off just yet. But the Jets were thrashed 58-6 by North Queensland last weekend and it will be hard to bounce back. The Young Guns had a glut of possession at Dairy Farmers Stadium, but Ipswich did not look physically capable of mixing it with their opponents. Souths Logan play Burleigh at Davies Park on Saturday at 3pm. The Magpies have done a lot of work at Davies Park, on and off the field and they hope to put on a good show. But Burleigh, placed clear fourth on the ladder, will start hot favourites. Undefeated competition leaders, Redcliffe travel to Toowoomba to play the Clydesdales on Saturday afternoon with Toowoomba?s only defeat coming in round one against Tweed. The Dolphins had to earn last week?s win over the Seagulls in the ABC Television clash and they will expect another tough hit out. The Clydesdales team may suffer a late reshuffle following Friday?s ANZAC Test in Newcastle, with players possibly called up to the Broncos for their Sunday match at Suncorp Stadium against NRL Premiers Penrith. The Toowoomba ? Redcliffe game shapes as the match of the round and has created a lot of interest on the Darling Downs and in the Lockyer Valley. The ABC Television match, to be replayed on Fox Sports, is between Easts Tigers and North Queensland at Langlands Park on Saturday with both teams on six points. But Easts have lost their last two matches while the Young Guns have won their last two by 50 points. Norths are the hosts for the other match of round seven ? against third placed Wynnum on Sunday at Devils home ground, Bishop Park. There is no Queensland Cup action next weekend with the QRL?s under 19 and under 17 divisional carnival being staged at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast. A Queensland State of Origin Preliminary squad will be named on Tuesday and the players will have an overnight camp on May 2 in Brisbane to commence preparations for this year?s Harvey Norman series.