Over the back half of the 2017 season, you ask anyone in the Group 11 competition who is going to be in the first grade grand final and the majority of the time they’ll rattle of the Dubbo juggernaut or those mighty Tigers.

But there’s still another side in contention to join the Fishies in the big dance on September 10.

And Tigers captain-coach Stewart Mills – a man clearly not underestimating his opponent – says there’s little chance Nyngan is buying into all the Tigers-Fishies talk ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final at Caltex Park against Parkes – the team no one is talking about.

“Not at all,” Mills fired.

“They’re obviously there for a reason after beating a pretty handy Forbes team, so we won’t be taking anything lightly heading into this one.”

The Tigers are two wins from two games in their match ups with Parkes this season.

A 36-22 win is the most recent result, while a 40-22 victory in round five also shows while Parkes is capable of scoring enough points to win, defence has been the issue against Nyngan.

But those defensive issues were in the regular season.

Defence has, arguably, been what’s landed Parkes just one game from the 2017 grand final, Dennis Moran’s side conceding just 10 and then 18 points in wins over Macquarie and Forbes respectively during the post season.

Throw in the fact the Tigers are without prop Rodney Coates, second rower Norman Fuiava and centre Jone Yacadrau and Mills knows earning a grand final date with old foes CYMS will be far from easy.

The key to making it happen?

“I think we need to get in the grind and do the boring things,” Mills said.

That, and mention Dennis Moran’s name as often as possible.

“He’s one of their key players … we’ll drop his name and be wary of him,” Mills added, the two’s duel as opposing five-eighths to be one of the highlights of the preliminary final.

And while all eyes will likely be on that Mills-Moran battle, the first year Nyngan skipper believes it’s the Tigers’ pack that can do the damage on Sunday at Dubbo.

As they’ve done all year. The Tigers’ pack, guided by crafty hooker Reece Goldsmith, has been the backbone of Nyngan’s success.

As has the Tigerland faithful.

And Mills is predicting Caltex Park to be turned into little-Nyngan as a swarm of Tigers fans prepare to pack out the Dubbo venue.

“Nyngan supporters, every single one of them will probably be at Dubbo,” Mills said.

“We had the whole stadium last week, there was just a little section for the CYMS blokes.”

Kick-off between Nyngan and Parkes is scheduled for 2.30pm.