It might be the time of the year where dreams are made, but Cowra Eagles co-coach Col Kilby and first grade captain Tim Berry are keeping their attention firmly on the Forbes Platypi in this weekend's Blowes Clothing Cup minor semi-finals.
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The third placed Eagles will host the Platypi on Sunday afternoon at the Cowra Rugby Grounds, but any talk of what the side could achieve in finals is being brushed aside by both men, with every weekend a sudden-death match from here on out.
"We've just gotta make sure that week in, week-out... we've just got to make sure that all 15, all 22 of us, turn up to play," Berry said.
"It's 80 minutes of football and we've got to play every minute... If we get the win we get to then re-focus [the following week]."
Kilby, for his part, echoed that sentiment, adding that to do otherwise could create difficulties for his team.
"It is full focus on Forbes this week," Kilby noted.
"If we don't give them the respect of that, it will make it very hard for us."
The Eagles come into the game with plenty of positives after an injury-afflicted second half of the year.
Both Troy Jeffs and Conor Lamond are set to resume after injury spells, while the Eagles have a healthy squad of around 30 players to draw upon.
Kilby said it was a challenging situation to manage, it is something that has improved the club's playing depth ahead of a finals campaign, with the recent strong form of the team's scrum, particularly Evan Stanbridge, meaning that Lamond will start on the bench in Sunday's match.
"It's definitely made us stronger as a club on the whole," he said, also noting the strong application and resolve within the playing group ahead of this week's match.
"The attitude has been really good, there seems to be a good feeling of excitement at training... they seem to putting their hand up and taking the opportunity that's in front of them."
The match will also be the last time the Eagles play in front of a home crowd for the year, the significance of which is not lost on either of the men.
"Hopefully on Sunday we'll have a good crowd over to support us and that might make the difference," Berry said, while Kilby notes it is also an opportunity for the players to give something back to their community.
"The crowd at Cowra's always a huge boost to us, and it's good for the players to be able to play on this stage in front of their home crowd," the co-coach said.
"It is our last chance at home this season... it's also a good opportunity to give back to the sponsors and supporters that have been there all year."
While both men have faith in their team, they nevertheless know that Forbes, led by play-maker Mahe Fangupo and captain-coach Jack Hammond, are a real challenge.
"Their forward pack never gives up, they play with a lot of energy and are quite physical, so we need to counter that."
It's a sentiment Berry shares.
"If we can dominate the tackle, dominate the ruck and maul and all that sort of stuff, then hopefully it can give our backs ... opportunity with space, that's what we're sort of aiming for."
Sunday's minor semi-final starts at 3.15pm.
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