It鈥檚 dilemma time for Bob Heyes.
Heading into the final Western Lacrosse Association regular-season game tonight, the Victoria Shamrocks head coach has to tread lightly as the Green and White prepare to play host to the Langley Thunder at 7:45 p.m. at The Q Centre.
With first-place overall safely tucked away with their 13-4 record, the Shamrocks open the playoffs at home Monday to an, as yet, undetermined opponent 鈥� one which could be Langley.
Resting injured players while maintaining a highly competitive level of play will be an issue Heyes deals with when he fills out his roster form. Then there is always the factor of being leery of teams taking liberties with star players just prior to the post-season.
鈥淚t can be a little head-scratcher, do you rest guys or do you not? It鈥檚 a home game. You have to look at the roster, see where we鈥檙e at health-wise,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eally, our goal is down the road so I have to see, but you also want to continue to build and instill that chemistry.
鈥淚t looked really good against Burnaby (a 14-4 win last Friday). You want to keep that going, but hindsight would be awful if a couple of guys get hurt playing the last game that means nothing.鈥�
The only guarantees so far in the WLA standings are Victoria is first and New Westminster is second. The last two spots were still up for grabs between Langley and Burnaby, both 9-8 before play late last night. Maple Ridge has ended its season at 9-9 and awaits word.
Coquitlam (6-11) and Nanaimo (3-14) have already been eliminated.
Burnaby was in New West late Thursday night.
Some of Heyes鈥� choices will already be made for him as both Dan Dawson and Steve Priollo are unavailable as they head to Team sa国际传媒 camp. Victoria鈥檚 two other sa国际传媒 reps, Ryan Dilks and Aaron Bold, will be in the lineup.
鈥淭he last thing you want is for it to be a nothing game and have an opponent get stupid on us and then have them be your opponent. It鈥檚 difficult to prepare for and I鈥檓 sure I will have players in my ears, giving me some ideas,鈥� said Heyes.
鈥淲hat you don鈥檛 want is karma to kick you in the backside for whatever you do. We need to go out and play the game. You want to put your best foot forward.鈥�
The Shamrocks will open the playoffs at home on Monday at 5 p.m., then travel for Game 2 on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Game 3 is set for Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. at The Q Centre and Game 4 follows Sunday on the road at 5 p.m.
If necessary, Game 5 is Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Colwood; Game 6 Aug. 15 at 5 p.m.; and Game 7 on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. at The Q.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the playoffs and we have to win four games, if that鈥檚 four games in four nights or stretched out, I don鈥檛 care,鈥� said Heyes. 鈥淎s long as we win.鈥�
Look for Heyes to start Bold in net again as he makes his fifth appearance.
鈥淭hey may be a first-round opponent and he鈥檚 a student of the game,鈥� Heyes said of Bold.
Heyes may also use junior call-up Cole Pickup, who has been practicing with the team.
