THE Windsor Wolves have already proved the doubters wrong according to coach Brad Prior.
Prior said many had written the Wolves off when the team started the season, only to see them finish fourth on the ladder and guaranteed to play two finals games.
The Ron Massey Cup team will face first placed Mounties at the weekend and Prior was under no illusion about how tough the match would be.
The blessing for the Wolves is that, because of their fourth place finish, if they lose this week, they will play next week.
Mounties have bested the Wolves twice this year, and have been the competition bench mark.
Prior said if the Wolves were to be any chance, all 17 players would need to be in fine form and the team would need a few calls to go its way.
"It is semi-final football, it is a whole new ball game. The hard work is getting to the semis and it will be down to who wants it most on the day," he said.
"Everyone thought we wouldn't be able to make it. A lot of people didn't give us much of a chance of making the eight.
"You don't listen to that, you make it white noise, the boys are just looking forward to getting out there."
Prior said he was expecting a big game out of front-rower Guy Hodgins, who was has been in the Sydney Shield in recent weeks.
"I think Guy will be looking forward to being back in the top grade," he said.
"He'll be looking for a big game but I think everyone will. We'll need 17 blokes to be on form to beat Mounties."
Prior said he was hoping to see a lot of Windsor fans at Ringrose Park at 4pm on Sunday for the match.
If the Wolves win this week, they will get a week off, however, if they lose they will play one of the teams from the bottom of the eight.
It is not a bad situation for the Wolves. With the Penrith Panthers no chance of making the NRL finals, a number of players who have been in the NRL to cover Penrith's injuries will filter down into the NSW Cup and under-20s teams.
This means the Wolves will get some talented players back in the team to bolster the side next week.
Starting line-up: 1. Sione Tonga 2. Ratu Emori-Tuisese 3. Paul Simona 4. Marli Sini 5. Chris Aunese-Scanlan 6. Aaron Farkas 7. AJ Davis 8. Hutch Mai'ava 9. Reece Goldsmith 10. Ryan Tramonte (c) 11. Pat Hollis 12. Shenelle Haumono 13. Ryan Cusack. Interchange: 16. Temata Rangi 17. Guy Hodgins 18. Shane Kiel 19. Nicko Apelu. Coach: Brad Prior.
Chris Boyd's Sydney Shield team comfortably defeated the Peninsula Seagulls at Windsor the only time the teams clashed earlier this season.
Boyd's team has a lot of different faces this time around as the club has plenty of players out injured.
One player Boyd has tipped to have a good game is second-rower Shane Kiel, who is back in the team after stints with the Ron Massey Cup team and the Penrith Panthers under-20s.
"I like his speed, I like his ability to bust tackles as well," he said.
"I think Shane Kiel will bring a lot of energy to the side."
Boyd said the Wolves were steeling themselves for the match against Peninsula.
The Seagulls are much larger than the Wolves, and vastly more experienced and Boyd said he was expecting a difficult game.
"They're a good side and have been up there all year and we'll have to be at our best to beat them," he said.
"If we control the ball we'll win and don't give away too many penalties we'll be there when the whips are cracking."
The Sydney Shield team will play at New Era Stadium at 12pm on Sunday, September 6.
Starting line-up: 1. Daniel Brown 2. Jake Ennis 3. Lachlan Jackson 4. Robbie Graham 5. Jamon Wormleaton 6. Jaydon Horo 7. David Farkas 8. Lota Fiaalii 9. Luke Atchison (c) 10. Brandon Nangaiti 11. Shane Kiel 12. Jadon Newsome 13. Kain Howarth. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smallwood 15. Dean Barron 16. Clayton Dodt 17. Jordan Stratton. Coach: Chris Boyd.
