The Macleay Valley Mustangs will have added incentive to taste victory when they take on the Wauchope Blues at home this Saturday.
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A victory will see the Mustangs secure the Group Three Rugby League minor premiership, a bye for the opening week of finals and the right to host the major semi-final on Sunday August 11.
The Mustangs are four competition points clear of the second placed Wingham Tigers at the top of the table with two rounds remaining in the regular season.
Macleay Valley are favoured to earn the victory at Verge St Oval, as the Blues, who currently sit in third position, have dropped in form in the second half of the season.
The Blues are winless since round seven but have secured two draws in the five game run.
However, Mustangs coach Russell Lardner is expecting Wauchope to lift for the contest.
"Teams always play better when they come up against the top opposition and we are expecting Wauchope to step up and try to knock us off," Lardner told the Argus.
"We are expecting a tough and very physical game but we just need to stick to our game plan and play to our potential."
Lardner is hopeful his side will stamp out the disciplinary issues which have crept into their game over the past month.
First grade kicks off at 3pm with the day starting at 11.30am with Ladies League Tag.
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