The reigning champion has won its past seven matches convincingly with the former Toyota Cup star saying yesterday it was important to build further momentum against Tumut, Gundagai and Southcity in the run to the finals.

The only way the Thunder can lose top spot is if they drop two matches and Southcity wins its last three.

The Bulls take on Gundagai in Wagga tomorrow with the victor to assume the mantle as the biggest threat to Albury’s chances of winning three successive flags.

“We are starting to take shape pretty well,” Goodwin said.

“It took us half a season for us to click with the new players but we know each other’s game a lot better now.

“Since the halfway mark of the season we have played good footy for longer.”

Although Albury Thunder will start raging favourites against Tumut at Greenfield Park tomorrow, Goodwin said the ladder leader wouldn’t be underestimating the Blues.

They were competitive for a half at Twickenham earlier in the season before the Thunder raced to a 58-12 win.

The return of centre Chris Seaton will be another plus after he raced in the Australian Superbike Championships at Winton last weekend.

“We were probably a bit flat against Tumut early last time and they gave it to us,” Goodwin said.

“I don’t think we will let that happen again.

“We were caught off guard and thought it would just happen for us.

“It would be good to start working towards the bigger teams coming up and find the rhythm and routine of it all.”

In other matches, the Bulls will again miss star forward Nick Skinner for their clash against Gundagai.

Coach Daniel Fitzhenry will have his charges pumped with the teams likely to meet again in the first week of the finals.

Tumbarumba will battle to hold a desperate Cootamundra, Kangaroos should edge out Temora and Young will defeat Brothers.