Blowes Cup: Bathurst Bulldogs can lock in top three finish with another win over

A win at Ashwood Park in their Blowes Clothing Cup meeting will ensure the Bulldogs will finish inside the top three, and keeps their faint ambitions for a major semi-final alive.

But getting that win won't be easy against a team who have pushed Bulldogs hard on each occasions they've met this season.

Bulldogs edged out the Platypi 24-22 in their first clash at Ashwood Park when Forbes missed a post-siren penalty, and the Bathurst men narrowly got home 24-18 in the next game.

The blue and golds will be thankful to have a couple of key returning players at the right time of the season.

Bulldogs' Justin Mobbs, who missed that first game against Forbes due to injury, said the team is motivated ahead of a crucial clash.

"It's great to have everything back on this weekend, especially because if things were off any longer our fitness wouldn't have liked that too much," he said.

"If we can knock Forbes over it goes a long way towards ensuring that we finish third and it keeps some slim hopes alive of finish second as well."

Platypi can overtake Bulldogs if they can get the win away from home, depending on the size of the outcome.

With their opposition having that on the line, Mobbs said it's great timing to see the squad be bolstered for the clash against Forbes.

"Both games with Forbes have been tight. They're a quality team and they're hard to put away. You always have to chip away from the full 80 minutes before you can say that you've beaten them," he said.

"We're carrying a couple of injuries at the moment but Sione Naufahu is back on deck this weekend, which is a great in for us. He hasn't played since the last game against Forbes, so that couple of weeks off got him back.

"Buzz Webber isn't back yet but he's had a chance to rest up over the last few weeks. Fortunately with the cancellation of the last round Peter Fitzsimmons is eligible to come back from suspension."

Bulldogs and Platypi will come together for their clash at Ashwood Park 3.25pm.

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