THE second chance card has been played by the Bathurst Bulldogs and now there is no more room for error when they host the Dubbo Kangaroos in Sunday's Central West Rugby Union minor semi-final at Ashwood Park.
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Sunday's Bulldogs-Kangaroos meeting is not just a chance for the hosts to go within a win of grand final spot but a chance to go beyond where their campaign came to a stop last year.
The head-to-head is evenly split this season and if history is anything to go by, a tight contest can be expected at the Bathurst ground.
After the Bulldogs picked up a 31-13 win on Anzac Day at Ashwood Park, a much stronger and rejuvenated Kangaroos side toughed it out for a 21-15 victory when they played host.
The Roos have enjoyed the stronger run of form coming into the finals but Bulldogs co-coach Scott Johnston believes, based on the two games, he has the stronger outfit.
"We've beaten them this season and only just lost to them up there. We lost but it was a great game. We go into this with confidence knowing that," he said.
Bulldogs find themselves up against the Roos thanks to a 39-24 defeat to the Orange Emus at Endeavour Oval last Saturday.
Not playing their way into the match fast enough once again proved the undoing of the Bulldogs who spent the whole game playing catch-up football.
"We were down 22-0 before we really started playing football. It was a pleasing second half but we've got to fix that start," Johnston said.
"It wasn't that we did anything majorly wrong. We dropped a bit of ball but they just kept us pinned in our own half, then they'd score points off it. It's just only tweaking a few little things we've got to do."
The Roos' size was not a concern for Johnston who said his team had matched up well.
"Dubbo are a tough and physical side and you seem to remember playing them the Monday and Tuesday the following week," he said. "It won't be easy. They like to bash you around but those physical games we've had this year are ones we've tended to deal with pretty well."
An ankle injury to Tom Joseph picked up against the Emus will be a big blow to the Bulldogs.
Johnston will shift from fullback to outside centre to cover for him while Phil Tonkin is back into the starting line up at fullback.
Action in first grade starts from 3.15pm.
