WHEN the Newtown Jets fight for their Canterbury Cup survival in Saturday's elimination final it will be without star halfback Kyle Flanagan, but they still have a major attacking weapon in their arsenal.
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It is Bathurst talent William Kennedy.
Kennedy has been named at fullback for the Jets' do or die clash with Mounties at Campbelltown Stadium and given his current form, he shapes as a key in Newtown's bid for survival.
After being one of the leading lights for the Jets last season as they made it to grand final day, Kennedy has continued to impress in the famous Newtown jersey.
His form earned him his NRL debut with Cronulla earlier this year, while his explosive speed and evasive running have helped him to score 12 tries in 19 appearances for the Jets.
Two of those came last Saturday in the Jets' final round, 34-22 win over Newcastle.
Kennedy's brace was accompanied by one line break, seven tackle breaks and 88 metres gained - a performance which earned him a place in the NSWRL.com.au team of the week for the third time this season.
"I'm really stoked with my performance, in the back end we dropped off a bit, but hopefully we can take that good footy into finals," Kennedy said after the win.
"Defence is what we pride on and if we do that, we can beat anyone."
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The Jets, who finished the regular season in seventh, scored the first 28 points of that match against Newcastle. It is the sort of start they will be hoping to produce against Mounties.
There have been plenty of points scored in the two prior meetings between the pair this season, Mounties winning the first match 32-16 while the Jets prevailed 34-20 in the other.
Former NRL star turned league commentator Jamie Soward is tipping a Jets win on Saturday.
"It has been a Jets side which has underachieved in my opinion this year. They are seventh, but they come into this sudden-death match up with a little bit of form," he said.
"I think the Jets in an upset here over Mounties, I think they get the job done."
Saturday's elimination final will kick-off at 12.45pm.
