The Blues take on arch rivals Gundagai in the preliminary final at Harris Park on Sunday, and need to down the Tigers for the first time in nine years to make their grand final appearance since 2010.

They've lost the last 19 games in the rivalry, including preliminary finals in 2017 and 2011.

Adding to the challenge, Gundagai scored a 34-6 win over Tumut when the teams faced off for the minor premiership in the last round of the season.

While history, and recent form, is stacked against them Tumut co-coach Dean Bristow is confident they can turn things around to set up a clash with Southcity in the decider next Sunday.

"I'm pretty confident will we be a completely different side," he said.

"Looking back on it we didn't give ourselves any chance, our energy was down and our completion rate was near 40 per cent."

They haven't met since, with the Blues were beaten by Southcity in the first week of the finals.

Just like the last time the two teams met Gundagai are also coming off a loss against the Bulls.

However Bristow believes the side is much better prepared for the challenge this time around.

Completing better is one of his main priorities

"It's two basic things really," he said.

"It's our completions and competitiveness.

"We have to give ourselves a chance.

"(Last time) we went into the last game with the wrong mindset and probably let them put it over us a little bit.

"If we can get back to competing on everything it gives ourselves a chance with the ball to try and build some pressure."

Gundagai have been at the peak of their powers for the best part of this decade with two premierships and four grand final losses since Tumut won the 2010 grand final.

It's been a very different story for the Blues who have only made the finals three times in the same period.

It was a particularly uneven rivalry between 2012 to 2016 where the Tigers scored 534 points in their 10 wins over the Blues and only conceded 50 points in total.

However Bristow believes the club is in a very different place now and proving it with a breakthrough win would be massive for what they've been building towards.

"When I came back in 2016 the club was down the bottom and had been for a while," he said.

"To see it slowly turn back around and to make a grand final with this squad would be unbelievable.

"It's what I planned for when we sat down and tried to build a team and is the biggest goal.

"Anything other than winning a grand final will be a huge disappointment for us but it is a big hurdle this weekend just to reach the next step."

Tumut come into the clash unchanged from the side who beat Albury 17-10 to keep their season alive.

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