The Outlaws will meet Bushrangers club-mates the Rebels in the preliminary final after the pair had mixed fortunes in last Saturday’s semi-finals.

The minor premiership winning Rebels were unable to down Orange to earn a direct path to the decider, while Outlaws kept their hopes alive with a commanding win over Dubbo.

That 20-10-130 to 7-8-50 victory over the Demons signalled a return to form for Outlaws, who had suffered back-to-back defeats heading into the finals.

“We were very sharp last week, it’s good to get back to the footy we can play to be honest,” Outlaws co-coach Paul Long said.

“I know that has been something which had been frustrating Matt [Archer, co-coach], so it was good to move into the finals with a bit of go about us.”

Though delighted with that win, Long knows the task of finding preliminary final success will be much tougher.

The head-to-head between the Rebels and Outlaws stands at one win apiece this season, while on top of that also comes the knowledge the victor will end the hopes of their club-mates.

Still, Long said both teams will focus on the match rather than the opponent.

“It’s one of those things, that’s football, you don’t always have things go your way in any sport. But while there is disappointment that it didn’t come a week later, it’s not something the club’s worried about, it shows the strength of the club,” he said.

“We are still going to go out there and play it like we are playing any other side, and we expect the same from the Rebels boys.

“It will be just like any other weekend on the pitch.

“There’s going to be at least one of us in the grand and that’s the upside I guess of the bad news when we do meet each other. Someone doesn’t get there, but on the other hand, someone does.

“It’s credit to committee, to the player around the club, to the supporters, that they are able to maintain this attitude and a really good outlook.”

Given the familiarity between the two Bushrangers outfits and their coaching staff, it can be difficult to formulate tactics to catch each other out.

Long said the key for Outlaws will be to concentrate on their own game rather than worrying about the threats Rebels could present.

“I think we are both attacking sides, so we go into each weekend when we’ve played each other, from my point of view, with the focus on what we’re going to do,” he said.

“That’s a little bit of saving grace in that regard. As tempting as it may be to let yourself think you know what they’re going to do, because there is that respect between the coaching group and the players, it’s good to be able to focus on ourselves.

“We really want to enjoy ourselves as well as trying to win a game of footy.”

While Rebels will be hungry to show why they finished the regular season on top of the ladder, a bulk of the Outlaws squad will be driven by a desire to go one better than last season.

Outlaws beat Rebels 10-13-73 to 5-3-33 in the corresponding fixture last season, but were unable to topple Cowra on grand final day.

Long knows his Outlaws once more want the chance to hoist the premiership cup.

“I missed it last year, but I know losing the grand final last year definitely does drive the lads on,” he said.

“For me as well, in the past few years I’ve played in a few grand finals and unfortunately been on the sour end of them more often than not.

“You always look to go in as best you can, prepare as best you can. That’s another facet, another motivation, that we want another shot in the grand final.”

Opening bounce at George Park is at 2.30pm.