Bowral Blacks will be out to prove their critics wrong on Saturday when they take on Kiama in the first grade preliminary final at Camden.
The Blacks have been labelled "chokers" in some quarters this week for their second half capitulation to Shoalhaven last Saturday, when they squandered a19-point lead with 18 minutes to go in the side's 29-29 draw with the minor premiers.
Blacks co-coach Craig Clothier has laughed off suggestions Bowral has a tendency to wilt in the pressure cooker atmosphere of semi-finals football, saying it was just one of those periods where nothing went right for the side.
"I don't think there's much to that, to be honest," Clothier said of the 'chokers' tag.
"They just basically controlled the ball well for 10 minutes, scored a few good tries and
"In hindsight you can question some of the decisions made, like kicking out on the full, but I think we finished very strongly and I think the term doesn't necessarily sit well with team either.
"But it doesn't really concern us at all, we don't pay too much attention to what's said about us down on the coast."
Clothier said the players have reacted well to the disappointment of blowing such a big lead with the boys putting it behind them to focus on the job at hand against Kiama.
"I'm really encouraged by the enthusiasm and confidence shown at training and there was certainly no doom and gloom about it," he said.
"We felt we played some of our best football of the year last Saturday and we know what we have to do and I think we're mentally prepared for the task at hand.
"We know it's going to be tough day and I think realising that helps, because we're mentally and physically preparing ourselves for a real tough game."
Tomorrow's opponents limped into the semi-finals with three losses in the last four rounds, but Kiama have proven in the past they know what to do when the finals come around.
Kiama were too strong for Tech Waratahs in the elimination semi last week and despite Bowral winning both matches this season, Clothier is under no illusion that Saturday's match is likely to be another nail biter.
"It's not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination," he said.
"There's only been seven points between us in any of our clashes this year, much like last year and they play a sort of football that you know that you're not going to beat them by much anyway. So I'm sure it's going to be a tight and stressful match for the coaches again."
Dynamic halfback Dave Elliot is in doubt for the match with a high ankle strain, which is a lot more serious than a conventional strain.
A final decision on his fitness will be made today with last year's grand final halfback Rob Taylor to come into the side if he is deemed unfit.
Daniel Drewe makes his return to the side at fullback, with Ben Wynn shifted to the wing, and Aaron Melverton the unlucky player.
"I can tell you the decision John (Rolles) and I had to make was the hardest decision we've made in two years of coaching and the way Deuce (Melverton) was about it was outstanding and a real credit to him."
Bowral has three teams gunning for a place in the grand final tomorrow at Camden, with thirds playing University at 12.50pm and second grade coming up against Shoalhaven at 1.50pm.
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