COWRA can expect an utterly ruthless Bathurst Bushrangers side to come out all guns blazing tomorrow at George Park when the two sides meet in the Central West AFL first grade preliminary final.

The Blues made it past Dubbo in last week’s minor semi-final to set up the clash with Bathurst, but only the most optimistic Cowra fan would suggest they have much of a chance an upset tomorrow.

Still, with the season to come to an end for the loser, there is no room for complacency or experimentation for the Bushrangers. 

They certainly won’t be taking any chances once the siren sounds to start tomorrow’s match.

“It would be pretty arrogant to say that we can’t lose, it is unlikely but not without a possibility,” Bathurst co-coach Brett Archer said.

“Cowra would need to be at their best and we would probably have to be a bit off the boil. But you never go in expecting to win, if you go in complacent you can start poorly, and suddenly the other team gets a sniff and you’re in a contest.”

The Blues beat Dubbo in their semi-final by 65 points and were never really threatened after a seven-goal opening term.

Nathan Worth booted seven goals and Kim Reid three. Those two may cause headaches for Archer, who looks likely to rest key defender Jack Vogan.

For the Bushrangers, the best scenario would be to put the result to bed as quickly as possible and allow the coaching staff to manage players carrying niggles and work on combinations in their forward 50.

“We had a slow start in the loss to Orange on the weekend and in the end it was probably what cost us the game,” Archer said.

“We need to come out at 100 per cent right from the start, get that ball forward as quickly as possible and really make sure we work hard on the quality of our entries into the forward end of the ground.

“If we can get clear there will be a mixture of experimenting with what we do up forward, but also making sure everything is sharp as it should be.

“And most importantly, we will hopefully not take the foot off the pedal the whole way through the game and get everyone good quality game-time.”

On the injured Vogan, Archer said that even in a do-or-die game, the likelihood that his team will win is going to precipitate a safety-first approach. Vogan will be a required figure to take Orange forward Dale Hunter if the Bushrangers make the grand final.

“It will depend how his knee comes up this week, but I’d be more inclined to rest him at this stage,” Archer said.

“There are a few other issues, Nathan Belbin broke his nose last week, but it might not effect him. He’s the sort of bloke where you’ll send a runner out and drag him off with that sort of injury and he’ll just stay out there anyway.

‘Tom Markey has a hip problem, but he was arguably our best player last weekend and should be fine to go.”

The match will be the Bushrangers’ last home contest of the season and will get underway at 2.30pm.