CAIRNS Saints coach Mark Kennedy will use tomorrow's AFL Cairns clash against Souths to test the depth of his playing group with four of his best performers unavailable because of representative duties.

Forward Matt Walsh, midfielder Gareth Hose, defender Matt Dwyer and onballer James Coatsworth are in Shepparton with the rest of the Queensland team preparing for the Australian Country Football Carnival.

However, Saints have the luxury of being able to afford a defeat if one should unfold at Griffiths Park. The Saints have lost only one game in the past 15 rounds and nothing short of an act of God
can stop them claiming the minor premiership.

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Kennedy said the unavailability of his fab four offered rare chances for others.

"There are a few players who have been on the bench who get a spot on the ground and some of the blokes who have been going well in the twos have also been brought up," he said.

Souths are also far from full strength for tomorrow’s clash.

As well as a crippling injury list, forward Steve Shaw and onballer Hayden Foss join the Saints contingent and five other AFL Cairns players in the Queensland side.

But perhaps the most notable absentee will be coach Steve Daniel, who is guiding Queensland at the championships.

Cutters assistant coach Matt Phelan said the mood at the Edmonton-based club was positive after last week’s seven-point win against Centrals Trinity Beach.

Elsewhere in round 16, the battle for fourth spot reaches a climax when the Hawks travel north to take on Centrals at Crathern Park.

In tomorrow’s other match the Cairns City Cobras will hunt their second win of the season against third-placed Port Douglas at Holloways Beach.

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