09.06.2010 - SWARCO Raiders shoot to secure home field advantage for Playoffs against Graz Playoff

The last game day of the regular season in the Austrian Football League promises lots of excitement. It will decide whose got home field advantage for the semi finals and who will secure the final playoff spots. For both of these questions the duel in Innsbruck?s Tivoli Stadium between the Turek Graz Giants on Saturday, June 12th (Kick-off at 17:00) will play the deciding roll.

The Tyroleans have secured a playoff spot, however they can?t set plan for a home game in the semi finals. SWARCO Raiders Head Coach Santos Carrillo knows this too: 'We have to win this game. It is the first step to our goal, and that would be to finally bring the Austrian Bowl back to Innsbruck.' With a victory, the SWARCO Raiders (4-1) can secure homefield for the playoffs due to the fact that the Danube Dragons (4-1) and the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna (4-1) face off. At the same time the Tyroleans can be a heavy weight in the playoff balance for the Giants because the Carinthian Black Lions (2-3) visit the Collectpoint Prague Panthers (2-3), they would push the Giants out of the playoffs due to head to head competition. THE BALANCE: BATTLE OF THE DISAPPOINTED ONES 'We can only control our own destiny and for this reason we have to focus and contrate ourselves 100% on the game against the Giants. That will be difficult enough,' things Carrillo. 'The Giants are better than their record says. They are a very experienced team.' The 23rd meeting (AFL and EFL) between the two teams will be a chance to make good after both faced bitter set backs in the EFL Semis. The SWARCO Raiders (27:29 against Berlin) and the Giants (22-38 against Vienna). Of the 22 all times matches against the Giants, the Tyroleans have won 10, and the Grazer 12. This weekend's contest proves to be an exciting contest between old rivals.

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