Proving it to themselves, as much as anyone else.

The Dogs had applied the pressure, particularly with a third-quarter surge against premiers Wollongong Lions, but ended up going down by eight goals.

And after belting Nowra by 162 points, their focus turns to a game which could decide a top-two spot, against Kiama at Keira Oval.

While the league will break up into a six-team top tier in a month, Murray has the added complication of dealing with player absences during the university holidays.

“We’ve had to throw our eggs into one basket a bit," he said. 

“We’re playing a style we believe can stand up to the Lions and Kiama, but when you lose a game against them, it’s sort of back to the drawing board a bit.

“We might only get one shot at Kiama with a full strength team, depending on the draw later on, so you want to make it count.”

Murray lamented a long period of possession against the Lions without being unable to convert into goals, before the premiers responded to win by 51 points.

“That’s what the good teams do, they can absorb pressure when it comes,” he said. “We just couldn’t lock it in our forward 50 enough.” 

The Dogs and Power are only split by percentage after five rounds, with Kiama thumping Bomaderry by 137 points on a lop-sided afternoon of results last Saturday.

Murray praised the Bulldogs ability to share the attacking workload, with 11 different goalkickers against Nowra.

“We’ve had a good spread, so we haven’t had to worry about just one focal point,” he said. “Hopefully that will be an advantage for us in these big games.”

Round six (Saturday)

Men: WOLLONGONG BULLDOGS v KIAMA at Keira Oval, PORT KEMBLA v WOLLONGONG LIONS at Kully Bay Oval, SHELLHARBOUR v FIGTREE at Myimbarr Oval (2.10pm); NORTHERN DISTRICTS v NOWRA-ALBATROSS at Hollymount Park (2.30pm).

Women: DAPTO CITY v WOLLONGONG SAINTS at Hollymount Park (9am), ULLADULLA v WOLLONGONG LIONS at Ulladulla Sports Park (12.15pm), WOLLONGONG BULLDOGS v KIAMA (12.30pm), NORTHERN DISTRICTS v NOWRA-ALBATROSS at Hollymount Park (12.45pm).