Northern NSW soccer: Scene set for magic afternoon as Tom Davies notches 100th first grade game for Olympic

The right back will make his 100^th first-grade appearance for Newcastle Olympic in a derby against arch-rivals Broadmedow Magic at Darling Street Oval on Sunday.

"The timing is impeccable," the 24-yeard -old said. "I have missed a game or two this year with injury. To line up in a home game at Darling Street against Magic for your 100th game, you can't ask for much more."

Davies sat out training on Thursday after picking up a knock to the ankle. He is among a number Olympic players battling niggles after a heavy weekend in which they progressed to the main draw of the FFA Cup.

Olympic beat Lambton Jaffas 1-0 on Saturday night and backed up on Monday to edge Coffs Harbour City by the same score to seal a place in the round of 32.

Both games were played on the synthetic surface at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility at Speers Point.

Broadmeadow beat Port United 8-0 at the same venue on Saturday night. But their match against Weston to determine Northern NSW's other representative in the national knockout won't be played until next week.

Magic had wanted to play the qualifier on Wednesday night.

Olympic coach Joel Griffiths has questioned why the Broadmeadow-Weston game wasn't played on the Monday.

"I don't know why they couldn't have played both FFA Cup games on the Monday," he said. "Then it doesn't disadvantage anyone for the weekend. We have a derby on Sunday and we are busted because we had to play twice in three days on a synthetic pitch.

"My keeper is in doubt, Tom Davies couldn't train, Tom Stewart is in doubt ... Thee rest have niggles from that surface. They struggled to train Thursday.

"It will take them a while to get back to 100 per cent. I know the rewards outweigh it but it's tough."

"If Magic play one game and we have to play two. And Magic still can progress, that is poor.

"I know the rewards outweigh it, but it's tough."

Davies, a physiotherapist, shared his coach's opinion but was confident adrenalin would get Olympic through.

"It is hard not to be keen and ready for a game like this," he said.

"It's one of those games where whoever turns up with the highest amount of energy and is most eager to win, normally gets the points. With the squad we have got this year, in the big games, we have always turned up."

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Davies, who made his debut aged 16, returned to Olympic this season after two successful years at Maitland.

"I followed [former Olympic coach] Mick Bolch over to Maitland in 2019," the 24-year-old said. "When I heard about the changes that were happening at Olympic, with the Griffiths brothers coming in, it sounded exciting. I was very keen to be a part of it."

Griffiths labeled Davies "a competitor".

"That is probably the biggest thing you get out of him," the coach said. "He is always up for it. He has great engines and is a winner."

Magic accounted for Olympic 2-1 in their previous encounter at Magic Park.

"They definitely deserved to beat us that day," Griffiths said. "They have some really good players and play well.

"We are a different team to last time. We are a bit more organised. It will be a good game. We are a squad who, at the moment, is punching a little bit above our weight."

Magic will be at full strength after the return from suspension by Keanu Moore in the win over Port United.

"Keanu knocked off a little bit of rust," Magic coach Damian Zane said. "He got through about 60minutes and did well. It was a good git out for him. We are in good shape for Sunday."

Zane also had praise for Olympic.

"The first half against Coffs they were pretty good," he said. "They should have been up about 5-0."

Elsewhere, Sunday, leaders Lambton tackled Edgeworth at Jack McLaughlan Oval and Charlestown host Adamstown at Lisle Carr Oval.

On Saturday, Weston welcome strugglers Valentine to Bear Park. Maitland played Lake Macquarie at Cooks Square Park on Friday night.

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