The Dubbo Kangaroos have been riding high after putting in some best-in-season performances of late and will ride the momentum of a three match win-streak into a showdown with the Bathurst Bulldogs on Saturday.
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"We're definitely in good spirits," Roos Coach Simon Petelo said.
"The last couple of weeks, we've had the results we've wanted, we're still sort of trying to keep them grounded and focusing on taking each game as we come."
The Bulldogs currently sit atop the ladder and have already handed the Roos two losses this season.
"[This game] is going to set the benchmark all year, we want to compete really well and stick with our game plan, it's going to be tough to beat them on their own ground."
The Roos will be further boosted by the return of one of the Central West's best in Mark Baldwin, who missed their last game due to injury.
"Mark's sort of touch and go at the moment, he's pretty confident that he'll make our starting lineup," Petelo said.
"He gives us a lot of experience on the field, that gives a lot of support to Shaun McHugh, our captain, he's alsoan aggressive runner, so we'll be looking to Mark to make some headway, we're really excited to have him back."
The Roos will need that aggression and more if they hope to counter the Bulldog's own strong forward pack, and Petelo's aware that last week's slow start won't get it done against the ladder leaders.
Last week we were facing the bottom of the table, this week we're facing the top of the table, so we know that a team that's playing on top is always going to come out with a higher intensity," Petelo said.
"We're pretty confident of what our systems are and how we've created them and hopefully they'll give us a fighting chance."
"We are concerned about our intensity, so that's something we're preparing to improve this week; to start a lot more aggressive and nullify their aggression."
Baldwin won't be the only change to the Roos' starting lineup on Saturday, with Jack Davis and others unavailable, the team will be returning to some familiar faces, and reshuffling others, in order to make the best of their opportunities.
"We've got Joe Finch coming in to replace Jack Davis in the centre, and Will Mitchell will be covering the second row. Jack Finch will be coming in to play hooker and we'll be shifting Chris O'Shea out to the side in the scrum, he's a very versatile, strong defender and very athletic."
"We're very happy with how we've prepared and how we're travelling, so our supporters are very happy, even second grade is doing well, so we're just going to consolidate and hopefully get the results we're looking for."
The match will kick off on Saturday June 29.
