A revitalised Dragons Under-18 side will be hell bent on revenge when they clash with Picton in Sunday’s sudden death semifinal at the Oaks.

In what promises to be a cracking encounter, the Dragons will be desperate to avenge an embarrassing defeat by the Magpies only a fortnight ago.

But with a grand final berth on the line, Moss Vale will have to dig deep to turn the tables after the recent pasting.

Dragons Coach Peter Burgoyne remains confident that his charges have turned the corner following last week’s emotional extra time win over Thirlmere.

“The self belief they’ve got now is totally different from when we last played Picton,” he said.

“Their minds are right on the job and I really believe they can do it.”

And Burgoyne dismissed concerns that his young side would struggle to come back to earth after last Saturday night’s stirring but brutal match.

“The hunger is there more than ever now and I’m sure they’ll be right for this game,” he said.

“The fact that Picton flogged us last time will just make the boys keener.

“That wasn’t them last time and we’ll see the real Dragons this time.”

Burgoyne claimed that nerves got the better of his side when the tow sides first met but concedes that Sunday’s clash would go right down to the wire.

“I honestly don’t believe Picton are a better side than us and there really is not much in it,” he said.

“My boys are still improving and their biggest hurdle was last week’s match.

“They’ve got nothing to lose now.”

But the coach maintains that there are still two barriers that stand in the way of the Dragons and a historic Group 6 title win.

After having the match sown up and letting in three soft tries last week, the Dragons will need to hold their intensity for the full 80 minutes.

“It is a bit of a problem,” Burgoyne admitted.

“But most sides fall in a heap at some stage of a match, usually just before and after half time.

“What cost us a bit last week was our positional play and giving silly penalties away, especially when we’ve got the ball.”

And the Dragons forwards will have to be in a ferocious mood after being walked over by the Picton pack a fortnight a go.

“The forwards have certainly got to go forward and put their bodies on the line,” Burgoyne said.

Moss Vale Dragons U18s: Jay Bruce, Cheyne Denning, Donny Cochran, Aaron De Jager, Nathan Ring, Rocky Stokes, Peter Robertson, Michael Robinson, Kane Acton, Elliott Esquilant (c), Dean Cernovskis, Damian Barton, Scott Bishop.