That's the verdict from trainer Scott Spackman as he prepares to take two of his Championships hopefuls to Albury for their final hit-out.

Tocatchacod, with a benchmark rating of 55, will contest the Boss Better Living Systems Class One Handicap (1400m).

Takissacod, rated 65, will run first-up in the SDRA Championship Preview Class Four Handicap (1400m).

Both of their targets is the $150,000 SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Albury on February 22.

Spackman has a high opinion of Tocatchacod but knows he is running out of time to get his benchmark high enough to ensure a start in the feature race.

"We've got no choice. He's got to win. He's got to win to qualify," Spackman said.

With that in mind, Tocatchacod will have blinkers applied for the first time on Tuesday. Spackman hopes that helps give the son of Cluster an edge.

"That was off advice from Mat Cahill," Spackman said.

"It's probably something we've had up our sleeve but I wanted to wait until he learnt how to race before I did it. But it's got to the nitty gritty now so we'll pull it out and try our best. Hopefully that sprint that I know he's got will come out. He probably hasn't delivered what I thought he would but he's been unlucky as well."

Jake Duffy will take the ride on Tocatchacod, while Bryan Murphy stays with Takissacod. Both are owned by Noel Penfold.

Takissacod surprised Spackman in her first campaign as she graduated from a modest Grenfell maiden win to running an unlucky third in a Class Three Highway Handicap (1500m) last November.

She trialled at Wagga last week when third behind stablemate Jaytee's The Fox and Spackman expects a strong first-up performance.

"I'm quite happy with her," he said.

"I thought her trial was very good. I thought Murph done almost nothing on her, she did it all herself, and she has come on leaps and bounds.

"I'm expecting a very forward showing but at the same time this isn't the big picture. The big picture is in two weeks time."

Spackman said the three-year-old filly has benefited from the spell.

"She's definitely got bigger and stronger," he said.

"I'm happy with where she's at but it's not our grand final. I need her to be doing something and I think she will."

Spackman's third contender is Jaytee's The Fox, who won a trial in impressive fashion at Wagga last week and will go into the race first-up.

Meantime, new Wagga trainer Maddy Collins will have her first runner at Albury on Tuesday when promising mare Gotta Want It returns from a spell in the SDRA Championships Preview.

Blazen Diamond was set to be Collins' first runner at Wagga last week but was a late scratching due to injury.

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