FNQ Bulls soccer coach Peter Tokesi might have wished Mt Gravatt Hawks goalkeeper Anthony Borge had missed his flight north, but he was otherwise pleased with his side's 0-0 draw at Mareeba on Saturday.

The Bulls geared up for Saturday’s Queensland State League opening-round match against Capricorn Cougars with a spirited display against Brisbane Premier League outfit Hawks.

Pictures: FNQ Bulls

The Hawks have been in strong pre-season form but it was only the superb performance from their pint-sized goalkeeper Borge that prevented the Bulls notching a victory.

Tokesi was pleased with the performance and was confident goals would come his side’s way in the home showdown with Cougars at Borzi Park.

"It was pleasing for me that we were able to create chances to score and we knocked the ball around," he said.

"I didn’t have a bad performer. I started with the first-choice team and then used eight different players in the second half, with totally different midfielders, and we still played well."

Tokesi said the Hawks had been the sharper of the two outfits in the first half as the visitors’ crisp passing game and subtle use of their bodies kept the Bulls on the defensive. But he believed the Bulls dominated the second half.

"We would have won if not for their goalkeeper," he said.

"He saved four or five shots from point-blank range."

Tokesi said the efforts of several individuals had forced him to rethink the make-up of his team to take on the Cougars, and was particularly impressed with the effort of Mareeba’s Steven Cater.

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