ONE point. That's all that's been between Pirates and Narrabri this season.
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Their last encounter ended in a draw, after the Blue Boars had the previous game kicked a penalty after the bell to snatch the points.
At Ken Chillingworth Oval on Saturday, the two will tussle for grand final hosting rights.
It's familiar territory for both sides, and both know what to expect from each other.
“They're clinical and they play for 80 minutes,” Pirates coach Mat Kelly said.
“We have to be right on it the whole game.”
That goes defensively, in attack and with their discipline.
Kelly also highlighted the importance of limiting the impact of Blue Boars skipper Matt Schwager, who returns after missing the last round.
“He's critical to them around the ruck,” Kelly said.
He felt they did a fair job of controlling him when they played out at Narrabri but highlighted that he is a big game player.
“They've got lots of big game players in their side,” he said.
So to do they. And plenty of experience, with Bart Leach playing his 100th first grade game and Doug Biffin his 100th for the club.
Then there's the likes of five-eighth Andrew Moodie, who is “just starting to really hit his straps at 10”.
Sam Collins will slot in outside of him with Brendan Rixon out with the injury.
Pirates will be looking to build on what they showed in the final round, when they scorched Walcha.
Kelly commented afterwards it was the best performance they've put together all season. They'll be looking to play a similarly uptempo game.
“We'll look to dictate terms if we can and play at speed. If we can do that I'm sure we'll set ourselves in good stead,” Kelly said.
The Blue Boars come in on the back of an indifferent second round, with two draws, a loss and a four-point win.
Coach Nick Lennon attributed that in part to injuries. But while things have improved a little bit on that score, they will be without centre Mitch Kelly.
He hasn't recovered from his broken hand. He'll be a loss but fortunately Henri Knight has answered an SOS and will come in for him.
Lennon struggled to find any chinks in Pirates’ armour and said they need “everyone doing their job”.
“I know they are a much bigger side. We've got to be up to the contest early,” Lennon said.
They've shown they can finish strongly.
“We've got to restrict their points early,” he said.
“The last couple of games we've let them out to a big lead.”
A lot will hinge on their defence. That's where they've probably fallen down against Pirates, Lennon drawing comparisons to Rams coach Barry Hoy's comments that they went too high on Pirates’ ball runners.
