Both sides had discipline issues in their respective elimination finals and played a portion of the game without a full complement.

The Red Devils picked up three yellow cards and the Blue Boars two, and Narrabri coach Dylan Duncan was quick to point out that they have got to tidy up their penalty count as they chase a shot at the grand final.

“If we give penalties away like that we won’t win the game,” he said.

Illdiscipline has also been a consistent issue for the Red Devils through the season.

As have poor starts. 

Encouragingly, against Scone last weekend they produced what backrower Will Archer adjudged probably their best start of the season.

They’ll be looking for a repeat effort on Sunday, with Archer identifying that as one of their downfalls last time they played the Blue Boars.

“We were pretty slack in the first 10-15 minutes,” Archer said.

“One of their flankers was extremely good over the ball [too]. We’ll be looking to nullify his influence when we are on attack.”

He also noted the Blue Boars’ ability to link up in attack and get a few offloads away as something the Red Devils will look to shut down.

After missing the clash with Moree, Jake Packer returns for the Blue Boars, but not wanting to disrupt the developing halves combination between Will Morley and Jydon Hill, Duncan has opted to start him at fullback.

“They’ve been playing the last three weeks together. It will be good to let them finish off the job,” he said, adding that Packer will be a “massive help”.

He is expecting the Red Devils to pose a similar threat to Moree.

“They’re a very similar side to Moree. They’ve got a big forward pack and will look to try and dominate through the forwards,” Duncan said.

“If we can control that forward momentum it will go a long way towards us winning the game.” They will take a lot of confidence out of the way they were able to stifle the Bulls’ forward momentum.