FORGET the china shop – Southcity captain-coach Daniel Fitzhenry knows the Bulls could be walking into rugby league minefield at Harris Park tomorrow.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A week out from the Group Nine finals, Fitzhenry is seriously wary ahead of Southcity's clash with Tumbarumba.
"Obviously it's an important one (game) for us," Fitzhenry said yesterday.
"It's also one of those tricky ones.
"We have everything to lose, and they will come down and throw everything at us.
"It's their last game and they'll want to go out with a bang."
Sizing up their first minor premiership since 2011, Southcity cannot afford any last minute hiccups as Albury is ready to pounce on top spot.
The Thunder are currently second on the table, but will jump to head of the queue for the finals if Southcity unexpectedly crashes tomorrow.
As much as Fitzhenry realises Southcity would be $1.01 on the TAB to thump Tumbarumba, he is not prepared to take any risks.
For this reason alone, the Bulls coach has resisted the temptation to rest players before they embark on the finals campaign.
"The only guy missing will be Wayne Goolagong," Fitzhenry said.
"He's got a bruised liver and can't play.
"Everyone else will play."
Significantly, however, Fitzhenry's hard-nosed attitude to tomorrow's Wagga duel goes even deeper.
"It's important we switch on," he said.
"We can't be thinking about the semi-finals.
"This game can give us a massive advantage."
For the Bulls, the lure of sending the Greens packing is absolutely simple.
A victory tomorrow will give Southcity the minor premiership and a major semi-final at Harris Park on September 14 - a huge bonus.
Likewise, the Greens will be out to wreck Fitzhenry's party.
"One way or the other they'll be able to get on the drink," he said.
"And we don't want them laughing over the drinks because of us."
Rather than give players a break this week, Fitzhenry is banking on "niggling injuries" getting time to recover when the Bulls are able to skip the first week of finals.
Tumbarumba captain-coach Aaron Sweeney will lead the charge tomorrow as he chases a new deal with the club for 2015.