The Southern Stampede has its back against the wall.
The Queenstown-based will need a miracle to make the national league final this year, following a meandering start - four wins, six losses - to the season.
''It's going to pretty tough to make it all the way this season, but I think we've got it in the tank,'' captain Bert Haines said.
The tough road to the final will require the Stampede to win its final six games of the season, and the second-placed Dunedin Thunder to lose some games.
''We need to keep winning, but we can't control what happens in the other games,'' Haines said.
''Hopefully, we can steal a couple [of wins] this weekend, and get some momentum going forward.''
Momentum is exactly what the Stampede will need after a demoralising pair of losses to the Thunder last weekend. To add insult to injury, star player Callum Burns also went down with a broken arm.
The Stampede will play the West Auckland Admirals in Queenstown this weekend, after spending the past two weeks on the road.
The Admirals sit at the bottom of the table, and were swept by the Stampede only two weeks ago in Auckland.
Haines said the Queenstown side needed to repeat the feat this weekend.
''I think our game matches up well with the Admirals' style of play. We'll have to keep taking one game at a time, starting this Friday.''
The Dunedin Thunder has the bye.
- By Leni Ma'ia'i
