RUGBY UNION
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Shoalhaven coach Mick Hayes has challenged his patchwork side to "step up" in Saturday's home meeting with improving Bowral.
Shoalies were missing 14 regulars through injuries and work commitments last week against Kiama and copped a 50-7 thrashing.
While Hayes is still without most of those players on Saturday, he is counting on an improved performance.
"This is the fortnight from hell for us," he said.
"I told the boys that this is a step-up game for us. We've done a lot of work on skills and we really need to believe in ourselves and apply those skills. We don't have the size of some teams and we have to play a bit more up-tempo and try to maximise numbers at the breakdown."
After going down to Vikings in round one, Shoalhaven beat Shamrocks before suffering losses to Avondale and Kiama.
Hayes believes that his side at full strength is top-five material.
"That's what we're aiming for and that's a realistic goal with all our players back," he said.
"The last couple of years we've had players doubling up in two grades, but we played Kiama with two fresh teams of 15 and still had a couple of reserves, so our depth is pretty good.
"Not so much with talent but certainly with numbers, and that's a plus, a good starting point.
"There's some good 17s coming through and we're blooding some of them this weekend."
Bowral will be confident after chalking up their first win of the season with last week's one-point defeat of the Camden Rams.
Camden are winless after three games and captain-coach Gavin Holder has demanded a better effort in Saturday's road duel with Vikings.
"We're just lacking a bit of hunger and a bit of pride and passion in the jersey," Holder said. "We've been off our game for the first three games but we've trained well this week and hopefully we'll regain that pride on Saturday."
The Rams are going through an adjustment period after appearing in the past two grand finals.
"We're in a bit of a rebuilding stage at the club, plus we've got a few injuries and boys with work commitments," Holder said.
"Hopefully in the next few weeks we can get a team settled down and start putting some wins on the board.
"It's putting pressure on the depth of the club, but hopefully we've got the right balance in our team this weekend to give Vikings a contest."
University host Kiama, Campbelltown are on the road against Shamrocks, while Tech Waratahs meet Avondale at Saunders Oval.