Lake Albert coach Mitch Tinnock believes Hanwood would be feeling the pressure to right the ship before Sunday's top-of-the-table clash after their unbeaten run came crashing down with successive defeats.
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The Griffith newcomers didn't even concede a goal in a dominant first eight weeks, but have been shut down by Henwood Park and Young in 1-0 losses the past fortnight.
It has allowed defending champions the Sharks to leap two points clear atop the Pascoe Cup ladder before they meet in Griffith.
Their previous battle mid last month, which ended 2-all was arguably the game of the season so far.
"I certainly think they're feeling a bit of the pressure. Everyone was saying they're favourites and rightly so, they didn't concede a goal for the first eight or nine matches," Tinnock said.
"It is a difficult comp and they might be finding it a bit difficult how it's very competitive virtually every week.
"You have to show up every week and it's hard to keep that consistency, which is one thing we've been good at the last few years.
"Back in their comp they may have had a few easier games."
Agresta said it may be playing a part in their rough patch, but said it's exactly why they were so desperate to test themselves in the Wagga league.
"That's what we were after, the challenge," Agresta said.
"Playing here (Griffith), barring an absolute disaster, you could guarantee we'd be close to being there at the end of the year."
Lake Albert is hopeful key attackers Cam Mavor (hamstring) and James Trevaskis (groin) will return for Sunday's clash.
Agresta feels his team has lacked patience once they've fallen behind in games.
"We're falling behind and going into panic mode," he said.
"We've just had a couple of off weeks and we've got to find our way out of it."
The Sharks (28 points from 12 games) lead a tight premiership race from Hanwood (26 from 12) and Henwood Park (25 from 11).
But Tinnock and Agresta declared winning the grand final is the main goal.
"You always want to finish top and say you've been the best time throughout the year, but the way it works here is everyone remembers who wins the grand final," Agresta said.
Tinnock agreed after his side won last year's grand final to cap an unbeaten campaign.
"We value finishing first on the ladder but the reality is in Australia it's not a big deal, it's all about the grand final."
Saturday: South Wagga v Cootamundra at Rawlings Park no.1 (7pm).
Sunday (all games 3pm): Tumut v Wagga United at Bull Paddock; Young Lions v Tolland at Hall Bros Oval; Hanwood v Lake Albert at Hanwood; Henwood Park v Leeton United at Rawlings Park no.2.
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