The Swans are keeping one eye on the place in the sun

Nobody in Gmunden is afraid of lions. Although the Lions Traiskirchen always roared quite well in the three previous season duels with the OCS Swans Gmunden, there was never any success in the end. On Saturday the Lower Austrians will travel to Traunseestadt again; the penultimate home game of the placement round will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Traiskirchen, however, comes with a tailwind: With victories against league leaders Klosterneuburg and against the Flyers Wels, the Lions became something like “giant slayers.”

“Traiskirchen actually suits us, but we know that it will be a big task this time,” says Swans finance director Harald Stelzer.

“The potential is there”

The aim is to defend second place in the remaining four rounds. But the place in the sun has not yet been completely written off. “Of course, first place would theoretically still be possible. With home rights in the play-offs until the final, you’ll of course make it easier for yourself,” says Stelzer. But the league hasn’t been this balanced for a long time. “It’s not a good Oktoberfest for the first and second in the play-offs either. In previous years there was always a clear favorite, this year you can’t identify one,” he says. Although Klosterneuburg was the strongest team throughout the season, there were still phases of weakness.

“As the reigning champion, you obviously want to get as far as possible. But I don’t want to talk about defending your title yet,” says Stelzer. That would also be too early: After just a day’s break, there will be another derby with the Flyers Wels on Monday.

“It will certainly also depend on whether we can get through without serious injuries. We are a bit vulnerable because we have a team-oriented and not an individual orientation,” says Stelzer. In six of seven defeats this season, the Swans were not complete.