The Kenmore Bears meet fourth placed Caboolture on Saturday in what is being touted as the biggest match of the newcomer's season.
A win to the Bears would move them to fourth place, one game clear of the teams in sixth and seventh position.
However, a loss will return the Bears to the very congested lower-middle area of the ladder and leave them requiring some exceptional football in the final few weeks to make the finals.
The last time the two sides met, Caboolture taught the Bears a lesson on how to play in the top division and won the match comfortably.
However, first year cub, Hayden Ryan, believes that Caboolture will be meeting a different team this time around.
When we met them last time, it was certainly a tumultuous time for our establishment," the characteristically verbose Ryan said, alluding to the Bears' early season ground troubles.
We've changed significantly since then. We're no longer a division two team trying to match it with the big boys. We now appreciate that we deserve to be here and we're playing accordingly," he said.
Ryan will line up on the half-back flank tomorrow and believes the key to success is Kenmore maintaining its composure in front of goals.
"We know the chances will come, our mid-field is too good for them not to, but it's how we capitalise that will decide the match. We've kicked ourselves out of matches this year and we can't afford to do that tomorrow."
The Bears have a relatively unchanged side from the week before, where they accounted for Strathpine in a thrilling contest.
Mick Laehy moves from the bench to the wing, filling the gap left by Shayne Etherton's timely move up forward.
A win tomorrow will mean that the Bears will have three wins in the second half of the season, the same number they achieved in the entire first half.
The Reserves side has also improved immensely since the start of the season.
A draw to Robina and a thumping win over Strathpine in the past three weeks indicate that coach Daniel Sass is starting to perfect the winning formula.
However, last placed Caboolture won't be a cakewalk for the Bears, reserves mid-fielder, Stefan Fuller, said.
"They were tough last time and after knocking off Robina on the weekend they will have developed a belief that they can win matches," Fuller said.
Fuller, whose brother Jordan is being widely touted as the next big thing to play for the Kenmore Bears, said that the Bears have the game to win it.
"As the team gets more settled we're starting to understand how we each play and I think the results reflect that," he said.
Both matches will be played at the newly refurbished Chelmer Oval on Saturday. The Reserves match begins at 12 midday and the Seniors match begins at 2pm. Patrons are requested to come early to avoid congestion.
Last Modified on 02/02/2008 10:25