BRAGGING rights for the season 2014 Group 10 minor premiership will go on the line tomorrow when St Pat’s and the Mudgee Dragons do battle at Glen Willow Stadium.

Pat’s have a chance to draw level with the Dragons at the top of the ladder on 24 points, but a loss would almost certainly mean Mudgee finish the regular season in first place.

Just as there is little between the pair on the ladder, there was little between them when meeting earlier this season. The Dragons got the nod by a point at the Bathurst Sportsground.

Even though the Dragons have been through a rough patch recently, losing three games after stringing together 10 undefeated performances to start their campaign, they have occupied the top rung of the ladder since round one.

Last weekend the Dragons sent out a warning signal by hammering Oberon Tigers 60-12 – a team that Pat’s couldn’t overcome a week earlier.

While Pat’s are coming off a 52-32 win in the local derby with the Panthers last Sunday, the blue and white’s performance was riddled with errors and defensive lapses.

Such mistakes will almost certainly be punished by a Mudgee team stacked with quality.

Playing the Dragons in Mudgee has not been a favourable trip for many teams in this competition, but Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock is looking forward to the challenge. 

“We’re excited on a quality surface and fast track. There won’t be much in the game,” he said. 

“Jack Afamasaga may not be playing for them due to a calf injury, so obviously that would be a big bonus for us, but being at Mudgee I expect they’re going to have enough depth to cover there.

“We played into their hands last time and that was our first loss of the season.”

Hancock said the key to winning will be to not let the Dragons build a lead in opening half, a contributor to their 24-23 loss last meeting.

“Our main thing this week is stopping that second man play and them getting that ball out to Corin Smith. We have to conserve our energy for the late game too,” he said. 

“Their start has always been their strength. Their big fellas get a roll on, they suck the juice out of you and then you end up running on empty.”

Training lately for Pat’s has been an involved experience for the entire team, Hancock encouraging his players to contribute their own individuals goals and ideas for the crucial fixture.

“We’ve done some work this week and watched some videos. Everyone’s had some sort of input into training. I’m hoping everyone can take more responsibility as a player and as an individual. That approach showed last week in attack against the Panthers,” he said.

“Last month we’ve been a bit hot and cold, but we’re turning that around.”

While very unlikely, but not impossible, if Pat’s win by 34 points or more it will see them knock Mudgee off the top of the ladder on point difference.

ST PAT’S: 1 Ben Hews, 2 Jon Hanscomb, 3 Mick Armstrong, 4 Dave Howard, 5 Jake Bright, 6 Garry Reilly, 7 Cameron Neville, 8 Luke Single, 9 Benjamin John, 10 Paleatime Ale, 11 Jacob Bell, 12 Cyp Ale, 13 Brent Dennis, 14 Campbell Scott, 15 Ben Thompson, 16 Derryn Clayton, 17 Kurt Hancock, 18 Dane Fisher.