There's no lack of motivation within the Dubbo Kangaroos camp, with players and coaches alike desperate to drag their slumping Blowes Clothing Cup season off the canvas.
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But this weekend offers even more incentive for the men in sky blue, as Saturday's clash with the Forbes Platypi coincides with the club's Old Boys' Day.
The Roos, so often a powerhouse of Central West rugby, find themselves in the unfamiliar position of second from bottom with just one win after eight rounds.
A number of the losses have come in matches which were in the balance heading into the final minutes, meaning frustration is growing within the club.
Captain Shaun McHugh is all too aware of that but he feels just one win can kick-start things, and a win this weekend would be particularly satisfying.
"It's great," Roos veteran McHugh said of the annual Old Boys event with a laugh.
"You get plenty of advice from the sidelines. Me especially, given I played with a lot of them.
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"But it's good for the club to recognise them ... there's going to be plenty of blokes there who have worn that sky blue jersey with a lot of pride.
"We don't want to put in a disappointing performance in front of them."
Disappointing performances have gone hand-in-hand with the Roos this season, with last week's loss to Orange Emus the latest in a string of exasperating efforts.
The Roos led at half-time and were all square with the defending premiers inside the final 10 minutes, only for Emus to go on and score a 10-point win.
"We've just got to get that win," McHugh said.
"We're just not finishing games off.
"Lapses and poor execution is letting us down, and it's let us down four times. It's happened twice against Emus, once against Cowra, and last time against Forbes.
"We win those games and we're third, not fifth, so it's frustrating but we're the ones who can change it.
"We've lost those games ourselves so we've got to get the plays right and the execution right for the full 80 minutes."
McHugh seems plenty of similarities between his own side and the Platypi, who head to No. 1 Oval on Saturday one spot above the Roos on the ladder.
The Platypi have also lost a number of tight games in 2019 but, much like the Roos, have a lineup loaded with talent.
Star half Mahe Fangupo is no certainty to play as he continues to battle a knee injury but the likes of Charlie French, Jarrod Hall, and Jack Hammond are all expected to be on hand.
The Roos will be without second-rower Simon Hegarty on Saturday but the forward pack still contains plenty of class with McHugh to be joined there by young gun Ben Knaggs, former NSW Country Eagles player Mark Baldwin, and Will Archer, who the captain said has been the side's best player each week this year.
Kick-off at No. 1 Oval 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.
