Southern Inland Rugby Union
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IT HASN'T been smooth sailing for the Waratahs in preparation for Saturday's preliminary final against premier Albury.
The initial prognosis is that Jake Eaglesham will be out for the season while coach Hugh Palmer will have to make another change to his forward pack to take on the Steamers.
Matt Meggison is unavailable due to work commitments, meaning two of the 'Tahs best forwards will be unable to line up for another rematch of last year's grand final.
Eaglesham's injury saw Dave Armstrong move to number eight with Ken Baker coming back into the second row in the five-point loss to Griffith.
With more reshuffling needed Palmer doesn't believe last week's changes made too much difference to the result.
"Our back row certainly didn't let us down on the weekend and more than matched Griffith," he said.
"But losing Matt, who is another good talker in the team and provides some structure to the guys around him. It's disappointing to be losing him, but if we get the job done on the weekend we get him back the following week"
Palmer blamed fundamental problems such as ball security as the main cause of the loss.
Describing the "bread and butter" aspects of the game that let the Waratahs down, Palmer doesn't believe radical change is required.
Coming into the game, Palmer talked about wanting to be the first team into the grand final, but doesn't see having the week off as too much of an advantage.
"A week off would have been nice, but' its not necessarily a bad thing as you need to take momentum into the finals and by getting this extra week under our belts it's another game to pull together," he said.
"We know that if we get over Albury this weekend we know how to beat Griffith, but it's not really the focus - the focus is Albury."
Albury boast a formidable home record, coming into this year undefeated at home for the past three years.
The fortress cracked twice this year, once early in the season against CSU and again when the Waratahs won by 25 points.
In the two games against each other this year playing at home hasn't been an advantage for either team.
The Steamers claimed a close win in Wagga, before the Waratahs' win in the border city earlier this month.
That win is a reason why Palmer isn't concerned by traveling to Murrayfield.
"Finals time I think the hometown advantage goes out the door a little bit and finals are funny things," he said.
"It's more about who turns up on the day and who wants it more than where you are playing.
"It will be a tough test down there but it would be a tough test at Conolly so it won't much too much of the difference to us."
SIRU has settled on four grounds for the preliminary finals.
Murrayfield and Jarrah Park will share the majority of the games, with No.1 Oval Leeton to host the women's sevens qualifying final between Leeton and Griffith and a third grade game between Junee and Waratahs to be played at Conolly Rugby Complex on Friday night.