They head to Moree still a mathematical chance of making the top five but resigned to the fact that they’re not going to get there.

Even still, they’re intent on taking it to the Bulls and the Bulls hope they do, with Narrabri just around the corner.

“Barraba (last week) was physical,” Bulls coach Damien Kelly said. 

“We’re not underdone in that way.” 

The Brumbies though will be another step up.

“They’ll test us more,” Kelly said.

“That’ll be good going into Narrabri.”

The test will come none more so than up front. 

That will be the critical area.

“If we don’t get on top of them, the backs won’t get any room,” Kelly said.

The backs have had a field day the last couple of weeks but won’t get the same space they have the last couple of weeks.

It’s up to the forwards to create the room for them.

Kelly will be looking to them to carry over the same defensive mindset they’ve had the last couple of weeks. 

They haven’t conceded a try in their last two games but will need to be on their game defensively. 

The Brumbies will be more difficult to keep out than Quirindi or Barraba were, Kelly said.

Both sides will be missing players. 

In the Bulls’ case though, centre Damien Meppem is poised for his first run-on this season.

The Brumbies are aware of the enormity of the task but have proven they can do it.

Back in 2008 they rolled the Bulls at home – when few expected it.

Tom Horden is the only one in the side who played that day and spoke to the players on Tuesday night, co-coach Duncan Pinfold said.

“He said on paper we had no right to beat Moree,” he said.

But they really wanted it and played accordingly.

That will be the telling factor tomorrow.

“If we run out there with a ‘we’re playing Moree at Moree attitude’ we’ll get flogged,” Pinfold said.

They need to go out with the attitude that “we’re Scone and going to give it a crack”.

They also need to fix up the defensive issues that have plagued them the last few weeks.

“Blokes are sitting back on their heels waiting for the attacker to get to them,” Pinfold said.

They can’t afford to let the Bulls get on a roll.

“Our focus will be on stopping them behind the advantage line,” he said.

“We built a lot of our success around defence last year. 

“We’ve got to reinstate that, not just for Moree but after that.”

In the round’s other games the improving Walcha hosts Narrabri, Tamworth heads west to Gunnedah, Barraba to Pirates and Inverell down to Quirindi.