A slow start to the season didn't help the Dubbo Kangaroos' chances in the Blowes Clothing Cup last year and despite back-to-back losses to open the 2019 campaign the club's director of rugby, Beau Robinson, isn't concerned at all.
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The Roos missed finals for the first time in seven years last season and have started the new campaign with losses to Bathurst Bulldogs and Orange Emus.
But those sides, the two who met in last year's grand final, are ones Robinson expects to beat most teams they come up against this season and that means there's no signs of worries within the Roos camp.
"It's not really (concerning) because you play every side three times," Robinson said.
"Bulldogs and Emus are the strongest so, a lot like last year, you've just got to make sure you're in the finals.
"We didn't make finals last year and that was not because of our slow start. That was because we didn't make the most of our opportunities.
"You've just got to keep up with the pack."
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This weekend offers the Roos a chance to get the ball rolling and make ground on the leaders. The men in sky blue travel to Pride Park to take on Orange City.
The Lions finished with the wooden spoon last season and are also yet to win this time around.
With City coming off a heavy loss to Bulldogs and Roos showing a huge amount of promise in the tight loss to Emus last time out it would be easy to point towards a Dubbo victory.
But Robinson won't hear it.
"We're not going there expecting it after the decent performance against Emus," he said.
"We've got to go out and play to win and we're capable of that with the tools we have, the systems in place, and the people we've got."
No can feel safe in their position.
- Beau Robinson on Roos' strength in depth
Robinson is close mates with City captain Josh Tremain and through speaking with him he knows the Lions are a team heading in the right direction.
New coach Viv Paasi and a number of returning players have given the side a real boost and Robinson expects them to play with "a new energy" this weekend.
The battle between the respective forward packs will, as always, be key but Robinson has liked the strength his side has shown right across the park early on.
"(Back-rower) Will Archer has been impressive," Robinson said, before speaking about another newcomer on the wing.
"George Woods is someone who enjoys running those hard unders and we've got a lot more punch in the backline compared to last year and there's plenty of competition for spots.
"No can feel safe in their position."
Proof of that is players who were unavailable for the Emus game are no certainty to be rushed back in for Saturday.
Kick-off at Pride Park is 3.15pm.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
