RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wests captain Matt Clarke has found a silver lining to the Devils's postponed minor semi-final at Dapto Showground on Saturday, believing it can provide the ideal run into a grand final appearance.
Defending premiers Collegians were to enjoy home ground advantage over their neighbours last Sunday but a heavy downpour on match eve saw the match rescheduled to Saturday.
After earning a week off in the first week of the finals, the winner of Sunday's major semi-final between Thirroul and Helensburgh will have another two weeks without a game leading into this year's decider.
Wests need to win three games in three weeks to collect the title and Clarke feels it could be a scenario that plays into their hands.
"To keep playing week in, week out against quality teams sort of prepares you for the harder slugfest sort of a game [in a grand final]. But we need to get through this one first and hopefully we can keep winning," Clarke said.
"We've just gone about our business this week, the same as we've done all year, but I think the boys have taken it upon themselves. We realise it's semis time and leading into the semis against Helensburgh and Thirroul I think we wanted to gauge ourselves.
"We had the week off but hopefully that hasn't put a dint in that form but we're training well and nothing really changed for us."
The postponement gave the Devils another week to stew on a last-gasp loss to the Butchers in the final round.
"We did let it slip a bit, but hopefully we can bounce back against Collies," Clarke said.