Api out is a blow; while he is good we should be well drilled enough to cope without him. Bateman needs to step up and lead from the front.
While a lot of what has been written here about Kickau, the dogs left edge and how good their defence has been; it is not something we need to be overly concerned with. Our Tigpies problem is primarily between the ears; we either start slow and turn it on in the second half or match it with the best of them for 60 minutes then drop off in concentration. The only game we have gone for the full 80 was against the Sharks, and I would argue that the Sharks attack is at least as good as what the Dogs have to throw at us.
With Api out this game will be decided by the team that is prepared to fight for the 80 minutes. We will miss him bringing players onto the ball but surely Simpkins has been studying hard to learn from him. He has a chance to make a name fo himself - time to really step up.
We can't can't change the way the Dogs will want to play - but we can influence the outcome by going into the game focussed on executing what we do well; kicking deep and pinning them there. IF we play the field positon and frustrate them with our defence there will be chances for the taking off their errors.
Sezer has toi get his kicking game right, especially if it is wet, and we know that Burton will be trying to do the same to us. Getting a roll on out of our own end is a must so Klemmer, Stef and Co need to chew up some meters after the back five have got us off the line.
What does all of this have in common - winning tomorrow is more about attitude than skill. I expect that the team with the best mindset will win. We are notoriously slow starters so Benji needs to channel a bit of Roy Masters and get the boys right up for this one and Bateman needs to lead by example and drag Stef, Klemmer and Papalii into the dogfight from the kickoff! Do that, even minus Api, we win this one.
