Points are as valuable as diamonds for the Redbacks been in the closing stages of the regular season, with just this match and a meeting against defending champions Rugby Union on offer before a final round bye.

There’s a 6.5 point gap between the fourth placed Redbacks and City Colts.

Bathurst City get an excellent opportunity to get back inside the all-important top three when they face a Centennials Bulls side who have never really managed to get their season up and running.

Mathematically, Bulls can still reach the finals with a collection of outright wins to their name but that’s exactly the result Coughlan wants his team to find by the end of next Saturday.

“A couple of teams have beaten this team by a fair margin and we’ll be looking to try and do something similar to help us out for the last round, because we’ve got the bye,” he said.

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“I think we try and push for maximum points this week then a win over Rugby then hopefully a couple of results go our way and we sneak in.

“After midway through the season being on top and then having the rain screw us over every week – and looking like it wants to again this week – we’ve just been unlucky.”

A lost toss against St Pat’s Old Boys proved disastrous for Redbacks, who had to contend with a slower outfield in the second week, while a rain shortened game prevented the team from claiming what was looking like a certain win against City Colts.

Coughlan’s hopeful it will be third time lucky in the two-dayers for his side.

“We’re pretty much full strength for this game,” he said.

“Michael Tobin’s back from a few weeks off with injury. He’s having one week in second grade then hopefully he comes through that alright and he’ll be back with us.”