ALBURY Thunder coach Ben Jeffery wants his team to charge rather than limp into the Group 9 finals.
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While the reigning premier can still make the top-five if they lose to ladder leader’s Gundagai at Greenfield Park on Sunday, Jeffery is adopting a more positive outlook.
“They are the benchmark of the comp but we want to take it right up to them,” Jeffery said yesterday.
“We don’t want to leave it to percentage or anything like that.
“At this time of the season you want to be playing well and I’ll be looking for a good performance from the boys.
“If we complete our sets and do the right things, I’m confident we will be right in the game.”
Gundagai, who thrashed sixth-placed Young last weekend, has only defeated Albury in three of their last 11 confrontations.
But coach Cameron Woo has the Tigers sitting pretty this season with wingers Phil Latu and Maika Sivo in strong form in recent weeks.
Mat Rose has also returned from injury and will command plenty of respect along with Woo, Blake Dunn and Damian Willis.
“They are on top of the ladder for a reason,” he said.
“I have confidence in our blokes, especially if we play like we did in the second-half against Junee.”
Jeffery will miss the clash against Gundagai after breaking his ribs against Junee and admits he faces a battle to be fit for the finals if Thunder progress to next weekend.
“I’m doing everything I can, but it’s not looking great at the moment,” he said.
“Mitch Seaton is back though which is a boost.
“Hopefully he can work some magic out wide.”
Southcity, Kangaroos and Albury are locked on 22 points with Young sitting outside the top five on 20.
The Cherrypickers would have to thrash Junee on Saturday and rely on Kangaroos or Thunder slipping up badly to play finals.
Meanwhile, Thunder will be holding a charity day on Sunday to raise money for prostate cancer.
“Right now more men die from prostate cancer each year than women of breast cancer, so matches like this which raise the profile and the need to get yourself checked, is a message we certainly need to keep re-enforcing,” Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said.
