The four-time defending NPL premiers have fielded a mixture of under-20 and first-grade players so far in the pre-season competition but coach Damian Zane was leaning towards having his best available side for the 6.30pm match at Macquarie Field. The club play Belmont-Swansea in a trial on the same night.

“I might put our first team in tomorrow,” Zane said of the Cup game.

“It’s a local derby, so there will be a competitive nature to it.

“Josh Evans and Pat Wheeler missed the weekend, so they will probably have a run, which makes it a tougher side straight away.”

The Eagles played Valentine in a trial last Saturday then beat New Lambton 4-0 on Sunday to top Pool C of the Cup.

NPL clubs Lake Macquarie and Weston meet in the other semi on Wednesday night from 8pm. The winners face off at Weston Park on Saturday night.

Edgeworth, Lakes and Weston won both of their pool games to make the semis, while second-division club West Wallsend were the best second-placed team.

Zane said the game was another chance for players to push their claims for top-grade spots.

“As people are playing more and more minutes, it’s worked out good,” he said.

“It’s about 70 minutes, which is about where we are at.

“It’s a good chance for them to step up and out of the shadow of the experienced guys.

“Instead of looking around for players like Josh and Dom [Bizzarri], some of these boys who have had a bit of first-grade experience, the young boys are looking to them.”