The Barbies knocked off the Portland Fillies in Portland last Saturday, securing a vital 18-16 win over a side also currently in the middle of a fierce race for finals spots on the 2016 ladder.

Barbarians skipper Sami Laing scored three tries in the win while Tegan Ryan bagged her side’s fourth in the four-tries-to-three win for the visitors, giving Laing enough confidence to predict her side is capable of making an impact in the post season.

“I definitely think we can make semi-finals,” Laing said.

“Every game is a must-win game from now on but I’ve got faith in the girls.”

This season is just the second the New Era Cup competition has a competitive league tag premiership, with Barbarians one of the first clubs to introduce a side in 2015, and that came after a few warm-up games in 2014.

“This year everyone has a side except Blackheath, and CSU have two so it sort of doesn’t matter,” Laing said.

“Kandos is a real dark horse for the competition, I think. They’ve been great.”

Laing praised the work of Ryan, Katelyn Stapleton and Gemma Newman, with that trio helping guide the side towards a potential top three spot with just three rounds remaining.

The Orange club plays Lithgow Giants this weekend – a game Laing backed her side to win – before fixtures against CSU Blue and then Kandos. 

“We’ll have to fight in all of those games to win,” she said.

“We’re equal third at the moment but our for-and-against isn’t the best, so we’ve got to keep winning to get that top five spot.

“I think Portlant’s run home is a bit tougher than ours, so hopefully we can secure that place.”

In a big weekend for the club, the Barbarians’ Cup outfit pinched a 20-all draw off Portland to maintain hope of a finals spot.

The club will take on the battling Giants this weekend.