CENTRAL West AFL finals chances are all but extinguished for the Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws but they've got a great reason to give it their all for the remaining two regular season games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Their Rebels clubmates are still in the hunt for the minor premiership and the Outlaws could deliver the number one spot to them with a win over Orange Tigers in the final round.
Outlaws' 54-point defeat to the Dubbo Demons will have sapped spirit out of the squad but co-coach Steve Grundy is confident the team can recover some of it in order to help out the club.
"Mathematically it's still possible to make finals, and while it's still possible you've got to believe," he said.
"The two weeks away might be a good thing for us. A few guys carried niggling injuries into the game and probably came out the worse for it.
"We've got the one game left against Orange, who have probably been the form team of the competition, and we go in there with a job to do.
"It could really help the Rebels' season so it's an important game from a club point of view."
The Rebels also have just the one remaining match to come, against the Cowra Blues at Mulyan Oval.
Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here.
A win from that game will guarantee an eight-point finish to the season since they sit the last round out with a bye.
If results go their way - and the Outlaws manage to stun the Tigers - then hosting rights for the major semi-final is on the cards.
If the Rebels backline continue to show the strength they have over the past month of play then co-coach Matt Archer said the team will give themselves every chance to go number one.
"The guys in the backline have played really well ... and they've turned into absolute revelations," he said.
"Simon Ross and Jeremy Tracy aren't guys gifted with athleticism but they're just absolutely brilliant with their effort, talk and willingness. It's been an outstanding feature of their games.
"Simon's started centre half back for us nearly every single game and has done an amazing job."