WESTSIDE coach Robbie Dunn is coming off one of the more sentimental rugby league matches he has been a part of but all the focus is now on this weekend's local derby with CYMS.
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Dunn wound back the clock last week when he strapped the boots on and ran out against the Parkes Spacemen at Pioneer Oval.
While the Rabbitohs were a bit short on players, that wasn't the main reason he played.
"I was playing for Wellington at the Caltex Knockout more than 20 years ago and my father was watching us play but had a heart attack and passed away on the sideline," Dunn said.
"We had to then go back out and play another game against Westside after that so that's why I wanted to strap the boots on, to play where my father passed away.
"It was (special) for me, I didn't tell the boys until afterwards what it meant to me and I went pretty well in my opinion too."
Dunn may put the boots on again this weekend, in a match which appears to be a mismatch on paper.
Westside is currently second from bottom without a win in 2016 and will welcome the competition-leading Fishies to No. 1 Oval for the third local derby in five rounds this year.
"No matter who's playing, when you go head-to-head in a derby the score can be anything," Dunn said.
"They're the premiers and we're the underdogs so we've got nothing to lose."
The Rabbitohs are coming off one of their better performances of the year, a 44-34 loss to two-time runner-up Parkes.
Dunn said some luck went against his side as well last week, with Parkes racing out to a 24-6 lead in the first half while they enjoyed a strong wind at their back.
While they fought back and piled on the points in the second stanza, it wasn't enough.
EJ Fernando and CJ Ralph were again among the best for the men in red and green while Corey Ashby and young second-rower Thomas Clow were also strong.
Those four will all be key again this weekend while Group 11 representative Colt Tairua may be a chance to return from injury.
CYMS coach Tim Ryan isn't taking anything for granted heading into the weekend's match, despite Westside's 2016 record and the fact his team is coming off a 58-0 win over Wellington.
"They'll be ready and they're always up for a local derby and they'll want to go out and do their best," he said, before speaking about his own side.
"We're going back to our old home ground too and I know a lot of the boys enjoy going back there."
The action at No. 1 Oval begins at 11am on Sunday with the main match set to kick off at 2.30pm.
