Craig Sugden knows the swamp that's forming at Waratahs isn't going to make for pretty football, but says whichever side can "scrap the best" will come away with the two points on Saturday afternoon.
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The sky blues will play host to Panorama FC in what shapes as a danger game for Adam Scimone's men in the Western Premier League's 11th round.
You've all heard the updates ... Waratahs are absolute rocking in 2021.
After wiping the floor with their local opposition last winter, Tahs signed Scimone to lead them into battle and have been nothing short of sensational, winning seven games, drawing a pair, all without a loss.
But, after a massive derby win over Barnstoneworth last time out, this could be a bit of a letdown spot for the Tahs, especially when you consider how desperate the visitors will be.
Panorama was a staple of many pundits' top four but instead, the Goats sits in seventh spot with just 10 competition points.
"They're definitely underachieving from what I was expecting," Sugden said.
"They seemed fairly handy and they played pretty well against us the first time but then you see some of their other results and you don't know what to think."
The two sides squared off on a fairly quick track back in round eight, but after the rain at Orange this week, the going won't be as firm.
"There's a few of us that are used to playing at Waratahs when it's a bit of a bog hole," he said.
"It definitely changes the game, and it doesn't make for pretty football. Whoever can scrap the best will get away with the win."
The sloppier the conditions, the more crucial goals become and Sugden is comfortable with who he has protected the nets.
Adam Brakenridge has been vital for the sky blues not just this year, but for an eternity.
"Brako's one of the best, if not the best in the Central West," he said.
"He's pushing 40 now and he's done pretty well to last this long. For every mistake he makes, he has 10 blinders.
"Last time we played Pano he had a double that kept us in the game."
As for the traveling side, coach Brent Osborne believes his team can bring an end to Waratahs' undefeated start to the season, but only if they play their style.
"We'll go in with the same mindset we did against Lithgow. We'll just make sure we're hard to break down," he said.
"They're a physical fit side and play a pretty direct brand of football and I think it's easy to get sucked into that when you play them. We're going to try and play - as cliche as it is - our game."
Osborne knows his team can claim victory, having already defeated Waratahs in pre-season - even though it didn't count for anything - and almost pulling them back in a 2-1 defeat at home last month.
"We know we've got the quality to beat them," he said. "We beat them in pre-season, we went close in the first round of the competition.
We know we've got the quality to do the job. We'll be hard to beat." Kick-off is 3pm at Waratahs.
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