FNQ Bulls coach Peter Tokesi knows too well the dangers faced by his side in tonight's Queensland State League soccer clash against Sunshine Coast at Mareeba.

Tokesi has coached goal-hungry Fire strikers Shaun Blackman and Scott Rocker and knows they must be shut down if the Bulls are to cause the upset and capture their first win of the season.

Blackman has scored a goal in each of the Fire’s victories over Bundaberg Spirit and NQ Razorbacks with Rocker posting his first goal for the club in the Bundaberg win.

Tokesi knows Rocker’s work in particular, having coached the new Fire signing to a Brisbane Premier League title victory at the Wynnum-Manly club.

"He finished as the leading goal-scorer for the Premier League, so he’s no mug," Tokesi said. "We need to be really safe in the backs."

The Bulls’ defensive task was not made easier with the news that Damon McLeod will miss the match with a minor leg injury but Tokesi believes replacement Alex Plowman will get the job done.

"We didn’t want to risk Damon this early in the season," he said. "At a pinch he could’ve played, but it gives Alex a chance to play and he’s someone I expect to see develop further over the year."

Plowman impressed when replacing McLeod in the second half of last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Logan United and comes into the starting line-up along with midfielder Blake Cremer and forward Trevor Faddy.

Tokesi said his players were keen to test themselves against the Fire which has started the new season from where it left off last year when it lost just one game for the season leading up to its title triumph.

The Bulls take on the Fire at Borzi Park at 8am. Mareeba teams will play curtain-raisers against Innisfail at 4pm and Stratford at 6pm.

FNQ Bulls: Daniel Wilesmith, Victor Madrid, Kane Alderton, Alex Plowman, Blake Cremer, Glenn Hurney, Andre Lohman, Dennis Allen, Trevor Faddy, Steven Cater, Joe Rusch. Reserves: Gavin Jenkins, George Koroma, Nathan Bird, James Joyce, Jack Richardson.

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