The Baa Baas have hit a purple patch in recent weeks, dispatching St Alberts, Glen Innes and then, last week, Robb College.

“We’ve knocked over every team in the competition  except the Blues,” Baa Baas co-coach Brett Monley said.

The Blues accounted for them convincingly last time they met but Baa Baas have come a long way since then.

How far, they’ll find out today.

“We’ve had three good wins and we are improving,” Monley said.

“But we still need to improve if we’re going to be a force in the finals.”

The Blues are the benchmark.

“They are a talented side,” Monley  said.

“It will be very physical.”

“Last time we played them it was very physical.”

From that game, he recalled they had a “great start” but couldn’t capitalise on their early opportunities.

“We’ve just got to capitalise on their mistakes and not give away too many penalties and too many soft tries,” he said.

And make sure they’re on their game for the 80 minutes.

Line speed will be a big part of that.

“We’ve got to make sure we break forward, take the space off them and don’t let them get any momentum,” Monley said.

Meanwhile, in attack,  they’ve got to make sure they give good service to their outside backs, he said.

Make sure the forwards are moving forward before they give it to them.

They do want to play a running game, recognising that the Blues thrive off that stop-start game.

The Blues are coming off a 31-nil win over Glen Innes last week and the points today would all but assure them the minor premiership.

For the Baa Baas,  a win would enhance their top two prospects after leapfrogging Robb into third with last week’s win.

Both games will be in Armidale, with St Alberts hosting Glen Innes in the other game.