STEPPING UP: Orange Emus No.8 Tony Elliot will play a key role in his side's match against Narromine tomorrow. Photo: JUDE KEOGH
NARROMINE could play a huge hand in whether Orange Emus make the Blowes Clothing Cup semi-finals.
The Gorillas will host the Emus tomorrow in the competition’s penultimate round.
The following week Narromine take on Parkes, the side which could push Emus out of fifth spot and the semi-finals.
Emus are fifth on the competition ladder, tied for points with CSU Bathurst. But a better for and against, keeps the students in fourth.
Parkes are four points behind Emus in sixth on the ladder.
Emus player-coach Paul Ringland knows tomorrow’s match could decide his team’s semi-final fate.
“It’s pretty much sudden death for us this week,” Ringland said.
Still, Ringland knows his team has the potential to come away from Narromine with the points.
“We’re pretty confident. We know if we play our best footy we can beat any side,” he said.
“We’ve got a pretty good record against them (Narromine) the last few years.”
Emus downed Dubbo Rhinos 44-8 last week but the player-coach said he wanted his team to eradicate a small lull in their game which allowed other teams back in.
The Orange side will be without flyhalf TJ Cunynghame tomorrow but will welcome back centre Tim Alison.
This means captain Andrew Swain will pull on the No.10 jersey and Alison will start at inside centre.
Forward Dan Brown will also come off the bench for Emus.
Ringland said if Emus don’t win tomorrow, if a few other results go their way, they could still hold onto fifth spot on the ladder.
“Hopefully a few other teams can do us a favour,” Ringland laughed.
“Parkes have got Rhinos which isn’t an easy game, CSU play in Forbes. The pressure is on a few teams - it comes down to who can handle it.”