Bathurst Bulldogs face a talented Orange Emus in the Blowes Clothing Cup second grade decider

That is the opinion of coach Pip McIntosh, a man who has faith in his squad but is also respectful of the threat that Bulldogs' grand final opponents Orange Emus pose.

While Bulldogs have twice accounted for Emus this season - posting 33-23 and 32-0 wins - the greens are the side who bettered Bathurst 21-8 in round nine.

And McIntosh feels the Emus have only gotten better since then. It's why he is not surprised they are joining Bulldogs in the decider.

"I thought they'd get through and they get stronger by the week that team, so they're going to be very difficult," he said.

"They've had a few players return that have strengthened them, players the calibre of Jack Marchinton who is an outstanding loose forward playing in the back row for them. He'll do a lot to disrupt the ball and make life hard for us.

"Harry Cummins has come down, Louis Carr he was outstanding on memorial day for first grade, so he'll be tough in seconds."

Though Emus have undoubtedly got talent within their ranks, Bulldogs lack nothing in that department either.

A host of their squad have spent time in first grade, while a number of them played in last season's grand final winning side which bettered Emus.

"We are fortunate a lot of the blokes we have there have played in grand finals before with the club, there are not too many who haven't played in a colts or a lower grade grand final," McIntosh said.

"But none will have played one at home, so that will be different for them, something exciting.

"Experience does count for a little bit, but I wouldn't put everything on it, it's just what happens on the day. If you don't turn up in the right frame of mind to play, it's going to be all over.

"It's just up to them now, we'll just see what they can produce."

READ MORE: Dwyer lured back for one more shot at glory

READ MORE: Ulberg is chasing her third premiership in as many years

READ MORE: Mateship will drive the Bulldogs in their pursuit of glory

Given Marchinton's ability to create turnovers and Carr's attacking threat - he's scored seven tries this season and set up plenty of others - McIntosh expects Saturday's match to be closer than their 40-24 major semi-final win over Dubbo Roos.

That's why McIntosh knows his players must be at their best to beat Emus on Saturday.

"We will have to be very good at and around the breakdown ... That's probably been a bit of a weakness for us all year, so that's one place where we will really need to improve," the coach said.

"Maintaining possession is going to be important ... and defensively on the fringe we have to be good.

"We just have to be better, because it's going to be the strongest team we've played against all year we're going to have to be better than we've been all year."

Kick-off in Saturday's second grade grand final between Bulldogs and Emus at Ashwood Park is at 1.35pm.