Jordan Reynolds has only been back in the Macquarie Raiders' lineup for a couple of weeks but he knows the performance he and his fellow forwards produce at Parkes on Sunday could make the difference.
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The Raiders' forward pack has been seriously hampered by injuries this season and the weekend's round 12 fixture will be the first time since the opening weeks everyone has been fit and available.
It couldn't come at a better time, as the Raiders meet a physical Parkes pack on Sunday before top two Wellington and CYMS await in the final two rounds of the regular season.
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Reynolds returned for last weekend's win at a wet and muddy Forbes and will line up in the second-row again on Sunday while prop Nick Harvey makes his comeback in the match at Pioneer Oval.
"They're a big side and we got a touch up against them last time and that was the game where I got injured and Ollie Gordon got injured," Reynolds said, looking back on the 26-12 loss in round five.
"I think the game will be won and lost in the middle. Defence-wise is probably the biggest part.
"Both sides can leak a lot of points and we have this year but I know we can be a lot better in our defence. It's something we're working on at the moment and if we can get that going we'll be right.
"We need to bash them up in the forwards. We've got a big enough side to do it and this is the weekend we need to show it."
I still don't think we've hit our straps yet.
- Jordan Reynolds
Parkes only has one win in the past five rounds but the performances have been better than the record shows.
Both Wellington and CYMS felt extremely lucky to escape Pioneer Oval with narrow wins in recent weeks while the one win was a commanding 44-16 victory over Narromine.
Reynolds feels Parkes remains a "dark horse" in the competition and added a win on the Spacemen's own turf would be a statement from the Raiders, who currently sit third on the ladder.
"I still don't think we've hit our straps yet," Reynolds added.
"We've got a lot we need to work on but we dead-set haven't had a full team all year."
Bobby Jo Gordon was also forced to pull out last weekend for the Forbes match and while he has been named for the Parkes match he is in doubt.
Captain-coach Alex Ronayne would make the switch from back-row to centre if Gordon is missing.
The match comes after a big week for Ronayne, one which included a birthday and the birth of a daughter.
Parkes is set to be without halfback Chad Porter again on Sunday due to injury but the halves partnership of Bailey Hartwig and Jack Creith still has plenty of firepower.
Sam Dwyer again starts at fullback as he ramps up his return from injury.
Sunday's match kicks off at 2.30pm.
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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.
