For the first time in months Tigers FC are headed for the training park, as they restart their preparations to get back on track for their FFA Cup run next month.
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The ACT's easing of restrictions signalled a return to training for the Cooma side ahead of their round of 32 match. November 24 has been set for the Canberra fixture against APIA Leichhardt at Viking Park.
Saturday will be the first time the team has be able to gather as a group since their season was cut short in early August due to COVID-19. And Tigers coach Ryan Grogan said it was relief to finally have a date moving forward.
"Basically it'll be a restart, like any preseason. So the first week, it'll be just a sort of restart sessions getting back on the ball to get the foundations in place," he said.
"I've also got a couple of clubs that have offered to play some games against us, so we'll line them up for the weeks leading into the game."
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The side is hoping to go at least one better than their 2019 Cup run, where they were eliminated in the round of 32.
Football Australia committed in September to ensure all fixtures would return before the late December deadline to crown the winner in time for the AFC Champions League.
The Tigers' fixture was one of eight dates revealed by FA on Friday, after states and territories began outlining their roadmaps out of restrictions.
Grogan said the more than a month the side had to prepare was welcomed.
"I'm happy that is towards the back end of November because it does allow us a good chunk of time to get some training in and we're not sort of going to be coming in off, just two weeks of training," he said.
"It will allow us to prepare as best we can. I mean it has turned out to be a good outcome, providing the game does go ahead and there's no more banana skins thrown at us in the next month."