THE derby fire will be stoked again at Tamworth Rugby Park today.
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Last season was one of the closest tussles for several seasons and saw the Magpies triumph for the first time in nine years.
Pirates returned the favour in the minor semi-final and, on form, arguably go in as favourites.
They were brilliant in the first half on their way to dispatching Quirindi last week, and coach Mat Kelly will be hoping they can replicate that, just for 80 minutes.
“We were very disappointed with our second half last week and we’ve spoken about putting together an 80-minute performance,” Kelly said.
“If we’re going to be a force we’ve got to play for 80
minutes.”
“We know they are a different calibre side and do lift when they play us.
“We know we’re going to have to work for it.”
“But if we can stick to our structure and play to our ability we’ll be right.”
But if they get into the grind with them they’ll find life hard.
Kelly said their first-up tackles would be vital.
They’ve also spoken a lot about the lineout, knowing the Magpies will be strong there with Mitch Wheaton and Alistair Doyle.
He has opted to keep Amos Ioasa and Andrew Moodie together in the halves, pushing the returning Sam Collins into seven.
“It was always the plan,” Kelly said.
“We had Moodie at 13 because we didn’t have the stock.”
Now they do.
Collins, too, is more accustomed to the backrow.
“He’s strong over the ball and likes to get into the nitty gritty sort of play,” Kelly said.
Magpies co-coach Tony Mills said defence would be the key for them.
“It’s been a bit of an issue for us in the first couple of games in the first half.”
Last week Narrabri put 21 points on them in the first half.
They didn’t concede any in the second half, which not many sides could lay claim to, but the damage had been done.
“Line speed will be the first thing,” Mills said.
Chop tackles have also been a focus. They’ve been a bit hit and miss with that, starting out well but then dropping off.
“We need to deliver it right through the game,” he said.
They’ll also be looking for a bit more accuracy in the tackle contest at the breakdown, and have rejigged things a bit in the backs, moving Nick Humphries into half-back and Matt Blanch to five-eighth.
“That presents us with the opportunity to play with a bit more width,” Mills said.
Dylan Cross also gets a start in the centres.
“He has got a fairly good level of speed and he has been playing well in second grade,” he said.