CANOBOLAS Rangers striker-turned-defender Aaron Stedman thinks his side will take great confidence into the Western Premier League semi-finals if they can record at least a draw tomorrow against Waratahs.

The minor premiers host fourth-placed Rangers at Waratah Sportsground in the final-round fixture and the local derby will help both sides prepare for their semi-finals next weekend.

Waratahs have beaten Rangers in both previous encounters this year and Stedman thinks getting a result against the competition frontrunners will be the ideal way to head into their elimination semi-final.

“There are not many old heads in the team anymore and it will help the young guys a lot,” Stedman said of what a win could do for his team.

“Even a draw would be a boost to the confidence ahead of the semis.

“The two times we have played have been good games and they’ve been closer than the score suggests.

“Even though (this) game does nothing for the table, we still want to win.”

Both teams place plenty of importance on local derbies, so motivation wont be lacking in either camp.

But Waratahs coach Allan Renike feels Rangers have more to play for as his men are top dogs at the moment.

“There is always that extra incentive when it comes to local derbies, so it is a good lead-in for us,” Renike said.

“(But) I think with us being on top of the table, there is more of an incentive for them to knock us off.”

Renike’s regular Rangers counterpart Tim Curran is away this weekend and has left his side in the hands of caretaker coach, Glenn Stedman.

Stedman coached Rangers last year and has not hesitated in bringing his own style to the Rangers line-up by switching Aaron Stedman and Luke Sullivan.

Aaron Stedman has played striker for Rangers for the past few seasons, while Sullivan has been used in defence by Curran, despite playing up front for Western Panthers in Super Youth League.

However, Stedman has been named in the backline for Rangers today and Sullivan at striker.