HOME grand final locked up? Doesn't matter. Don't take that foot off the pedal.
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That's the message Bathurst Bushrangers are keeping in their minds for the last two rounds of the AFL Central West men's top tier regular season.
Bushrangers remain perfect through six matches and want to extend that run this Saturday away to the Dubbo Demons.
The Bathurst club hold a 12 point buffer over the second-placed Demons going into the penultimate round, making them impossible to shake from the top of the table.
The home grand final ticks one of the Bushrangers' goals off their 2020 checklist but co-coach Tim Hunter said there's still a desire in the club to keep piling the pressure on the other clubs.
"We're really proud of what we've achieved so far though there's obviously a lot still to go yet. It's great for the club to be able to host the grand final. It's always a great day. The boys have worked hard for it," he said.
"We're still pushing hard until the end of the year because it's all about building momentum. Hopefully we're playing our best footy at the right time.
"We've only got two games to go so you can't afford to take the foot off. We need to make sure in these next couple of weeks so we enter the grand final in the right way."
The second meeting between the Demons and Bushrangers was denied by the weather but their only match this season was a crushing victory for the latter at South Dubbo Oval.
The 64-point victory over the then-unbeaten Demons has so far set the tone for the remainder of the Bushrangers' season.
There was a level of uncertainty around what to expect from the Demons at their home ground on that day, but Hunter said that victory was a confidence boost like no other.
"We were stoked with how we played last time we went over there," he said.
"Obviously we take a bit of confidence out of that but we know that Dubbo will be raring to go because they'll be fighting it out for the second spot. We know anything off our best won't be good enough.
"They're a quality side and I think, full strength, they're going to be hard to beat again."
The key to victory over the Demons last game was pretty simple in the eyes of Hunter - not deviating from the plan.
Bushrangers failed to get pulled away from their strategy and it paid off.
"We wanted to play our style of footy and that's what clicked for us on that day," he said.
"We'll go over with the same sort of plan. Hopefully we'll still be able to play at our best because we know it will be tough.
"Last week's game was a tricky one against Orange. Even though it was sunny the ground was slow. It was a good hit out.
"It's always a tough, physical game against them. We have another physical game this weekend so it's a good build up towards finals."
Saturday's match at South Dubbo Obal starts from 2.30pm.