New Holland Cup: Guest coaches and fresh blood as CSU prepares to face Dubbo Rhinos

Barring a string of shock losses from the currently undefeated Parkes, CSU is destined to finish the regular season in second position. Given his vast experience as a coach, Conyers knows that sort of situation can see players lose some of their hunger.

But he wants them to enter the finals in good form rather than indifferent form.

"The problem we've got now, because we're so far ahead on the competition table, if we lose our last three games we're still going to finish second on the table," he said.

"There is that mindset there that win, lose or draw we're going to finish second, so they've probably lose their hunger a little bit.

"So we had Damien Grant come up and do a guest coaching session for us, Pip McIntosh is coming up to do a session for the backs - it's just bringing in some new faces and new ideas to keep people interested.

"They boys are still pretty committed, they've just got to focus on improving between now and the semis, which is something we need to do."

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This Saturday CSU will head to Dubbo to take on a Rhinos outfit which is currently sitting in third position.

Conyers' men have already beaten the Rhinos twice this year - 22-19 in Dubbo and 55-21 at University Oval - and the CSU coach certainly wants to make it three from three.

However, he knows the Rhinos will be no easy beats as they head into the match on the back of a 28-19 win over Mudgee.

"They're probably the most improved team in the competition by a long way. Their coach has done a really good job in cleaning their act up - discipline, their actions off the field, everything - he's really turned it around," Conyers said.

"But we've got to play Parkes at home Saturday week, so that's going to be a big one, we want a good mental preparation for that one."

CSU could be without star prop, Central West representative Lamarn Ma'a, who has relocated to the South Coast.

He could still opt to travel for matches, but his availability for the remainder of the season is in doubt.

However, Conyers' squad is still looking good and he will also use Saturday's game as a chance to give some second grade players who have been impressing their chance in the first XV.

"I'm going to try and blood some second grade guys, bring a couple of them in and give them the opportunity to show their wares," he said.

"In particular I'm keen to see young Phil Enright, we call him Jug, he's probably been one of our best players all year.

"He's only a little fellah but he's got a hundred mile an hour motor in him, so he's a young fellah that really deserves a chance.

"He's a hooker so we'll probably start him there."

CSU's clash with the Rhinos will be played at Apex Oval on Saturday, the match set to kick off at 3.15pm.

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