DAPTO coach Michael Henderson and Collegians counterpart Nathan Fien will both be treating Saturday’s one versus two clash at Dapto Showground as a finals dry run.
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The Canaries edged out the Dogs 16-14 last week in the first meeting between the league’s top two sides and fans won’t have to wait long for the sequel with the two heavyweights set to meet for the second time in the space of seven days.
It’s likely to be a preview of the major semi-final and, with play-offs just three weeks away, Henderson said the defending premiers will be treating it as an audition.
“You treat it as a semi-final type scenario,” Henderson said.
“We knew it was going to be a really tough game [last week]. They’d obviously been undefeated and it was nothing we didn’t expect.
“It’s going to be another intense game and back to back intense games is what the name of the game is at finals time.
“Both sides are going to have to prepare really well and be ready to go again.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Collegians coach Nathan Fien who will be looking to bounce back from a loss for the first time this season.
“It’s probably a really good opportunity for both sides,” Fien
“I know Dapto, at the start of the year, missed a lot of footy. They’ve had six or seven games in a row now so they’re starting to get into their groove. For us as well, we’ve had a bit of a run of back to back games now.
I’d rather just be playing footy, so if it means we have to play two weeks in a row I’m happy with that as long as the boys are still out there trying to get better each week.”
The two-point loss was a tough one to swallow for the Dogs, who twice fought back into the clash to draw level with the Canaries, with a late penalty goal to fullback Jason Raper proving the difference. Collies No. 1 Kyle Eather had a chance to level the scores after the siren but had his attempted penalty shot waved away.
It saw the hosts suffer their first defeat in an otherwise impeccable season, but the performance left Fien confident his side can match it with the defending premiers.
“I don’t think we played anywhere near our best footy and we were still right there at the end,” Fien said.
“We were probably guilty of a few simple errors and one of their tries we just switched off and let them go straight through the middle of us. We’re a lot better than that.
“There was a stoppage in play and for whatever reason we switched off momentarily and Dapto showed once again that they’re the side to beat. They took that opportunity and sealed the game.
“We know we’re there or thereabouts but we know we’ve got a bit of improving to do before the big games roll around. There was no trophy on the line so we live to fight another day and the way the draw’s fallen we get another crack at them this week so for us it’s all about preparing well and hopefully being better this week.”
The top of the table showdown is part of a blockbuster weekend of action with Thirroul hosting Wests in third versus fourth clash while Helensburgh and Corrimal will look to settle the score after fighting out a 20-all draw in their first meeting this season.