While Bathurst is currently sitting fifth on the ladder, Forbes coach Heamani Lavaka said the Bulldogs are not to be underestimated.

“They’re a big club, they’ve played in the finals every year,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter where they are on the ladder.”

Playing off the back of last weekend’s general bye, Lavaka said he’s not sure how his boys will go this week.

“We lost to Cowra coming out from a bye,” he said.

“The only good thing about this is it was a general bye, so no-one played.”

Another disadvantage for the Platypi is the fact that all sporting fields in Forbes were closed last week due to the rain, so they were unable to train on their ground.

“We tried to do as much as we could in the indoor sports centre but it’s not the same,” Lavaka said.

This weekend is also expected to be a wet one with 10-20mm predicted in Bathurst on Saturday.

Lavaka is hoping that won’t be a problem for the Platypi, who beat Dubbo Kangaroos in the rain and mud two weeks ago.

It’s a fortnight since the Bulldogs gave their season one hell of a spark with a win over Orange City – ending a six-year drought against the club – but their task doesn’t get any easier tomorrow against a Platypi team sitting second on the table.

No team has staged a more remarkable turn in form this season than the Platypi, who ended last year’s competition in eighth.

Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson said the Platypi have chiselled themselves into a well-rounded unit.

“They’re six from eight. They’re performing very well against the top sides – they beat Dubbo [’Roos] convincingly. We’re expecting them to be very strong in the forwards, but they also have some quality backs,” he said.

“Obviously Mahe Fangupo is one of the leading players in the comp and is a Country player – so we’d expect him to not be playing against us – but there’s still players like Jack Hammond in the backs and Jarrod Hall up front.”

Fangupo’s expected absence is significant, both in the Platypi’s direction and from a statistical viewpoint.

Platypi have only lost two matches this year but they happen to be both the matches that Fangupo was absent for.

There’s additional motivation this week for the Platypi who will be playing tomorrow’s match in support of their captain, Jack Hammond, whose mum was involved in a serious car accident just south of Forbes last Friday.

Lavaka said the boys want to play their best for Hammond, who is still set to lead his team.

“We’ve got a lot to play for this week,” he said.

“As a club we try to help each other when things happen like this.

“We’re trying to get everyone to give him the support he needs.

“It’s a good effort for him to still play and lead the team this weekend, even though his mum is not in a good shape at the moment.We’ll be playing for her this weekend.”

Platypi and Bulldogs clash at the earlier time of 1.45pm, ahead of the NSW Country match which will be at 3.15pm.

All other grades will also be pushed forward.

FORBES PLATYPI: 1 Marty Herbert, 2 Jarrod Hall, 3 Jake Cutler, 4 Tohi Nusipepa, 5 Brenton Howarth, 6 Bryce Hazell, 7 Andrew Hubbard, 8 Tim Anderson, 9 Angus Kind, 10 Matthew Kilgore, 11 Nathan Langilangi, 12 Brett Stace, 13 Jack Hammond, 14 Henry Willis, 15 Josh Coulthurst.

A message from the coach...

When you’re building a team it is all about good morals, good spirit, commitments and big dreams. Jack Hammond has got all that and that’s why he is our captain for this season.

He showed us that this week when he still turned up to training on Tuesday while his mother is fighting for her life at Orange Hospital. 

I did ask him if he wanted to take some time off but he still wants to play for us this week. 

It is very sad to see it happen to one of our own and even to anyone else’s mother but Jack shows his true colours as a leader to be there with the team this Saturday. 

I really want all the players to use this as a motivation for Saturday’s game because this has happened to one of our own.

- Heamani Lavaka, Forbes Platypi coach