WESTERN Division under-16 manager Andrew Pull said he and coach Jamie Szczerbanik are confident their young side, including the six-strong Orange contingent, can reproduce their second-half form from last week in Saturday's clash with the Greater Southern Redbacks.
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In the first half of last weekend's opening round of the 2016 AAMI Country Championship the Rams were disjointed, coming together in a dominant fashion in the second stanza to record a come-from-behind 22-18 victory.
This weekend, Pull said he's certain that cohesion will come to the fore from kick-off.
"The effort was there in the first half, there was just a lack of execution," Pull said.
"They were a bit like an old car, they were trying to get going ... but it just wouldn't click.
"The cohesion came in the second half and they ran over the top of Bidgee.
"We're pretty confident that cohesion and understanding, with a game under their belt, will be there again on Saturday."
St John's five-eighth Matt Burton will again captain the side after a stellar performance in the win over Bidgee.
Burton scored a double in that match and Pull expects him to guide the side around again, alongside Orange CYMS halfback Matt Burton.
"Boardy was strong last week, didn't overplay his hand and scored a nice try because of it," he said.
"He's got Matt Burton at five-eighth, he's skipper and a bit more dominant, so Boardy can float."
While Pull said the group is brimming with confidence after last weekend's strong win, they won't be taking the Redbacks lightly, even after they were on the end of a 30-8 shellacking at the hands of the Greater Southern Stingrays in round one.
"It's the Illawarra area and anyone picked to represent that region must be able to play," Pull said.
"I'm certain we can win, I think it will come down to which side is better prepared and I can say our preparation has been superb."
The Rams-Redbacks fixture kick off at 12pm on Saturday, before the former side takes on the Stingrays in Bateman's Bay the week after.
The best two sides from their southern pool will then clash with the best two teams from the championship's northern section in the finals.
WESTERN RAMS: 1 Charlie Staines (Forbes Magpies), 2 Jack Isedale (Coonabarabran Unicorns), 3 Zarrin Galea (Narromine Jets), 4 Brock Naden (Wellington Cowboys), 5 Lincoln Monk (Orange CYMS), 6 Matt Burton (c) (St Johns Dubbo), 7 Josh Board (Orange CYMS), 8 Luke Bain (Bathurst St Patrick's), 9 Paddy Haycock (St John's Dubbo), 10 Matt Nicholson (Red Bend Forbes), 11 Hudson Spicer (Orange CYMS), 12 Zac Cook (Orange Bloomfield), 13 Nathan Swain (Orange CYMS); Bench: 14 Tyrone Harrison (Orange CYMS), 15 Joey Hobby (Blayney Bears), 16 David White (Condobolin Rams), 17 Jacob Pollard (Cowra Magpies), 18 Blaine Gordon (South Dubbo Raiders)
