Shocked by the wooden spooners to start the season, Southcity coach Kyle McCarthy admits his side panicked under pressure.
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He's looking to turn it all round against round one winners Junee at Harris Park on Sunday.
However they're cause hasn't been helped by the withdrawal of Hayden Jeans.
Jeans has won the Bulls best and fairest in the two seasons he's been with the club, but won't be a regular face this season due to work commitments.
McCarthy said it was something the club has to deal with.
Brody Tracey comes on the bench for the big front rower after missing last week with a finger issue.
While he doesn't have Jeans' intimidating presence, McCarthy expects the Diesels will still know when he's out there.
"He will be a good little bit of energy to get in the squad," McCarthy said
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Twelve points was the biggest margin across the five games to start the season.
Two games, including Southcity's, were only separated by two points while Albury held premiers Gundagai to a draw at Anzac Park.
It shows just how the tight the season is shaping to be and how switched on clubs will need to be.
"It's a very even playing field," McCarthy said.
"There will be no easy games and you really have to be on to get the victories."
McCarthy is looking for his side to cut down their errors after coming up short against the Dragons.
He thought it really cost them in the back end.
"I think I counted nine errors on the first two tackles and that crippled us," McCarthy said.
"We were up 18-8 and had four of them late so there was just no petrol in the tank left to defend our errors
"It was a little bit of inexperience at times and I think we were a little bit panicked as we probably thought we should have been up by more and because we weren't we were trying to do things out of character instead of just going through the processes.
"It's a learning curve."
Southcity scored two tight wins over the Diesels last season and he expects nothing less on Sunday.
"They are always a tough team to play and we struggled in both games against them," McCarthy said.
"I think we are really in for it."
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