HISTORY is against CSU as they look to take local bragging rights tomorrow with their first Central West Rugby Union Bathurst derby of the 2014 season against Bulldogs at Ashwood Park.

There will be plenty of the usual emotion that comes with a clash against their cross-town rivals, but given their recent record against the Bulldogs, the students face an uphill task.

Since 2006 they have won just twice during a period in which Bulldogs have been a virtual fixture in the top five.

CSU’s wins came in round nine of season 2012 and round 12, 2010.

They have lost the other 11 editions of the derby.

For the last six matches between the sides, CSU team captain Hugh Medway and club captain Tom Keft have been a part of the action and are the only players in tomorrow’s line-up to have actually tasted first grade success against Bulldogs.

In what is likely to be his final year with the university side, Keft said the showdowns mean as much now as they ever have.

“You still definitely look to these games, it is at the end of the first round of matches and the end of the regular season, so everything sort of builds up towards the games with Bulldogs,” he said.

“It is a big opportunity for us because of the sort of football we’ve been playing, we’ve been maybe not getting the results we’d like, but the quality of play has been there.

“Bulldogs have been a bit up and down, we’re definitely not underestimating them because they do have some fantastic players, but if we go out and start strongly I think we’re a big chance.”

Since copping a pair of floggings in the opening two rounds, the students have improved markedly and been competitive in every game since.

However, they only have two wins from their eight games to show for it.

Any chance of a push into the top five by season’s end probably hinges on getting a win tomorrow.

Their coach James McLaren has been positive and upbeat throughout, pointing to the fact that his side are getting better each week as reason enough to be relatively satisfied.

But from a players’ perspective, the lack of wins has understandably started to become a source of frustration.

“Absolutely,” Keft agreed.

“It is hard not to be frustrated when you can see that you’re getting better, you’re pushing good sides, but still not getting victories.

“It is very encouraging to see that we’re improving and we’re happy with the kind of footy we’ve been playing, but if we don’t start notching up wins then we’re not going to have a chance of playing finals.”

Keft will line up at half-back tomorrow and said that the side’s forwards could provide an unexpected surprise for Bulldogs.

Traditionally CSU rely on their outside speed to try and test the bigger sides, but Keft is confident that the men in the middle will be making an impact of their own.

“We don’t see our forwards as a weakness anymore, Sam Robertson and Hugh Medway have been absolutely killing it,” he said.

“Matt Waterford has been doing some work with our scrum and we’ve been a lot better in that area and we’ll look to keep that going. It is vital too that we start well and don’t let them get away early.”

CSU: 1 Tom Hudson, 2 Justin Picker, 3 Michael Coates, 4 Pat Murphy, 5 Sam Robertson, 6 Tom Greenaway, 7 Nick Dutton, 8 Hugh Medway, 9 Tom Keft, 10 James Tooth, 11 Gus Flannery, 12 Tom Pegler, 14 Pat Hill, 15 Tennyson Vance.