Ag College look for a big response with season on the line

Aggies are one win away from consecutive Southern Inland grand final appearances, but need to rediscover their best form to get past Albury at Exies Oval on Saturday.

Coach Will Mitchell was embarrassed by their performance in the 55-12 loss to Waratahs in the major semi-final on Saturday.

However he's been pleased with the response from the young side following the thrashing.

He's hoping that can change their fortunes.

"Albury are hungry and are a good side," Mitchell said.

"You can't underestimate them and we won't be.

"We know we have to play really good footy, starve them of the ball and bash them when they have it.

"There has been a good attitude change this week at training and I'm expecting we see that on Saturday."

Ag College have lost five games this season, but four of those have come in their past eight games.

Twice have been at the hands of Waratahs, who they haven't beaten since 2015, while Albury were far too strong when they clashed on the Border three weeks.

The Steamers scored a 46-15 victory on that occasion when they were playing for their season.

The held their Wagga rivals scoreless in the first half on that occasion.

Now that both sides have it all at stake Mitchell is looking for Ag College to step up their physicality.

"It's an attitude thing and these guys have got to be physical," he said.

"It's probably one thing that has gone missing over the last five to six weeks.

"I don't think we've been physical enough and it's not because we can't, but we just haven't been in the right head space.

"It's been addressed and I'm expecting that to change for Saturday."

Mitchell named an unchanged line out despite prop Harry O'Connor injuring his shoulder in the loss to Waratahs.

A call on their front row won't be made until after training on Friday night.

Besides their 77-0 victory over winless CSU in the last round of the season, points haven't been as free-flowing in the back half of the season.

They've been kept to three tries or less in six of their last eight games.

To help put some more pressure on the scoreboard Mitchell is looking to get the side's back line more involved.

"We need to play expansive rugby, which is what we're good at, and put the ball in front of our forwards a bit better and faster," he said.

"That's with the ball and without it we need to muscle up, gang tackle and make them stick.

"We have to stop playing the game on our side of the advantage line."

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