WHEN the Bathurst Bulldogs host an in-form Forbes Platypi in Central West Rugby Union  action tomorrow there will be some added motivation to impress given the match will act as a curtain raiser to the NSW Country Cockatoos versus Brumbies Provincial fixture at Ashwood Park crowd.

It’s a fortnight since the Bulldogs gave their season one hell of a spark with a win over Orange City – ending a six-year drought against the club – but their task doesn’t get any easier tomorrow against a Platypi team sitting second on the table.

No team has staged a more remarkable turn in form this season than the Platypi, who ended last year’s competition in eighth.

Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson said the Platypi have chiselled themselves into a well-rounded unit.

“They’re six from eight. They’re performing very well against the top sides – they beat Dubbo [’Roos] convincingly. We’re expecting them to be very strong in the forwards, but they also have some quality backs,” he said.

“Obviously Mahe Fangupo is one of the leading players in the comp and is a Country player – so we’d expect him to not be playing against us – but there’s still players like Jack Hammond in the backs and Jarrod Hall up front.

“We need to build upon what we did against City. We need improvement in our defence and continue to cut down their attacking movements. We’ve looked solid in our set pieces and hopefully that continues in this game.”

Fangupo’s expected absence is significant, both in the Platypi’s direction and from a statistics viewpoint.

Platypi have only lost two matches this year but they happen to be both the matches that Fangupo was absent for.

There’s additional motivation for the Bulldogs because their win over the Lions has taken them inside the top five for the first time this season.

However, their plan isn’t just to sit there – it’s to reach for greater heights.

“Being in that top five has given us a lot of encouragement, not just to stay there, but to try and work towards fourth and third,” Roberson said.

“This week at training we’ve been trying to reinforce our structure, knowing where to be at what phase. We’re working really hard in our training sessions this week because we know we need to if we’re to beat Forbes.”

Roberson has named an unchanged line up from the one which beat Orange City.

Bulldogs and Platypi clash at the earlier time of 1.45pm.

BATHURST BULLDOGS: 1 Chris Plunkett, 2 Mark Donnelly, 3 Sean Fogarty, 4 Izaak Breen, 5 Ollie Barclay, 6 Adam Dwyer, 7 Jono Healey, 8 Peter Fitzsimmons, 9 Kurt Weekes, 10 Scott Johnston, 11 Josh Lee, 12 Sam Roberson, 13 Bart Bogart, 14 Tyson Smith, 15 Jack Roberson.