The Boars and Boomerangs will go head-to-head this weekend in a massive local derby in the Group 19 competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both sides got wins from their first game this season, the Boars proving far too good for the Armidale Rams in a 60-30 win, while the Boomerangs were able to handle the Narwan Eels 40-18 in their opening game.
In their three matches last season, the margin was never greater than 10 points, with the Boars enjoying wins in two of those games.
In a positive for the Boars and for the competition, they will be able to field a reserve grade team this weekend.
"It's been going well, everyone's been enjoying training," Boars captain coach Stan Swan said.
"We're getting a few more turn up which is good."
Swan knows it's going to be a very tough game, with the derbies typically played with high intensity.
"The games are played fast and hard. They've got a fair few fast players in their team, we just can't slack off," he said.
"We're just working on our fitness, practising ball in hand, our attacking structures."
Boomerangs coach Chris Binge knows the local derbies are always a big match, but he knows it's still early in the season.
"It's obviously a game that always gets a good crowd and always a game that, no matter which grade, it's always played at a pretty high intensity and we expect no different," he said.
"But we've got to keep things in perspective, it's only round three."
Binge is just focused on the game itself and he knows the Boars will come ready to play.
"There's no secrets. They've got a couple players from our club," he said.
"They've got some quality players that have obviously, over the last few years experienced what it's like to be at the top, hopefully they'll feel what its like to be at the bottom."
Binge was pleased with the way his side played in their first game against Narwan, particularly after the opening 20 minutes where they were able to take full control.
He's been thrilled with the way the team has trained over the last two weeks, particularly their defensive work.
"We're just making sure we're defensively strong," he said.
"Defensively, if we can win that arm wrestle we need to get into, everything else will come off that.
"We've just got to be patient with the ball. If we can build pressure, we can get the result."
"We're also going to be very disciplined in what we do on and off the field. If we deter from that we know the result will probably go the other way."
Binge said the Boomerangs got complacent at times in their matches against the Boars last year and he wants to make sure his side doesn't fall into that same trap this year.
The day will begin at 11am with the ladies league tag, followed by reserve grade and then capped off with the A-grade match at 3pm at Burt Jovanovick Oval.