TAKING an hour to buy a loaf of bread - to most people that would be a frustrating scenario, but for Oberon Tigers coach Dallas Booth it is a morale boosting sign.
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It shows just how much the Oberon community are behind his Tigers, who this Saturday will host CSU in the Mid West League Cup major semi-final.
Hosting a grand final qualifier will be a big moment for Oberon and should they win something even bigger will follow - playing a grand final on home turf.
"Being at home is always a bonus, there's a good buzz around all the guys so they are very excited for it," Booth said.
"We haven't played many finals at home and the fact we get to have a qualifying final is a big achievement for the club and there's a buzz around the town. You know you go up the street to get a loaf of bread and it takes you an hour because everyone wants to talk about the footy."
The Tigers finished the regular season as the undefeated minor premiers and as such, are the title favourites. But Booth knows that favouritism does not ensure success and has been stressing that message.
CSU are the defending premiers and have played in the last three Mid West grand finals, so they present a formidable challenge.
"I've been very strict on the players in making sure we know that the job's not done. The team we play on the weekend, CSU, they are a very good football side," the coach said.
"I have been part of sides that were unbeatable all year and crumble in the semis, so anything can happen.
"They have already versed us once, so they know how we play, we know how they play and they'll obviously make adjustments to their style of play to try and exploit some weaknesses we have.
"It's a completely different ball game, semi-finals are a completely different competition so we're taking nothing for granted and certainly keep our egos in check ... what's happened in the competition so far means nothing."
Oberon beat the Mungoes 26-8 earlier this season but that was in wet conditions.
Booth knows that in the dry CSU's talented back line shapes as more of a threat.
"When we played them out at Oberon it was a terrible day, it was slippery, it was cold and that nullified their backs a bit, at lot of it was played in the middle," he said.
"I think the weather will be better than last time we played, so we will have to make sure that both our left and right sides are ready in defence because they will use the ball. They've got some young, fast, fit backs, so we have to do what we can to nullify that as well as make sure we hold the middle up.
If you don't get nervous before a game they you probably don't care about it enough and shouldn't play in my opinion.
- Dallas Booth
"I am nervous but I get nervous before any game and I know a lot of the other boys do too, but that's just part of the excitement. That's why old blokes like me still play too, we play for that excitement.
"If you don't get nervous before a game they you probably don't care about it enough and shouldn't play in my opinion."
Prior to the Tigers versus CSU cup match, Oberon's league tag side will fight for survival when hosting the Orange Barbarians in the minor semi-final.
Last Saturday in what was the league tag side's first taste of finals, they posted a 26-8 win over Kandos in their sudden-death match at Wade Park.
Booth hopes they can replicate that effort and advance to the preliminary final against either CSU or Cargo.
"Last time they played Barbs they were lucky enough to get the win, I think it will be another cracking game of footy," he said.
"Whoever wins on the weekend, know CSU and Cargo are very good sides, but anyone can win the lottery, semi-final football is different, so fingers crossed for them."
The league tag semi-final will kick-off at 1.30pm with the cup clash to follow at 2.45pm. Oberon will also be using the day to raise funds for their Can Assist branch, with special jerseys to be auctioned off after the games.
