VALLEY
Valley have been dominant so far in 2026.
They remain unbeaten with the only blemish on their record a draw against Athletic Marist way back in round two.
Being able to keep winning amid a tough season has been a real credit to the team, head coach Logan Dunlop said.
"The boys have stuck in there all season which is good.
"We’re pretty lucky, we’ve stuck with much the same squad even with a few injuries we’ve managed to hold it together.
"Everyone is willing to get in and get stuck into it, really."
He has seeing loved their attack with ball in hand this season.
"The outside backs have been really good for us this year and then obviously the forwards doing the grunt through the middle is key to that also."
Dunlop said the the game plan against Old Boys this weekend would be simple.
"Just do the basics right, really, minimise our errors and just play our own game."
EXCELSIOR
This season has been anything but smooth for the back-to-back defending champions.
Excelsior has racked up a tonne of injuries, both major and minor, during the campaign so far.
"I think we’re up to about, after two serious ones in the weekend, up to pretty much a whole team, about 15 injuries," head coach Jason Forrest said.
"To finish second on the table after everything we’ve been through, the boys have shown some real heart and some real ticker."
The "buzz around the club" has helped overcome the adversary, he said.
"We’ve just stayed positive, you can’t do anything with injuries. We play a physical sport and you’ve just got to get on with it.
"Just that next man up mentality and we’re lucky enough we’ve had a couple of our B’s boys stand up and do a fantastic job for us at different stages over the year."
Forrest is hoping his side’s experience playing finals rugby the last few season will be an advantage.
ATHLETIC MARIST
Could this be the year Athletic Marist break the drought?
Having not won the competition since 2010, head coach Tim Anderson and co will be keen get their hands on the Citizens Shield.
Athies have always been a side that can pile on points but Anderson has been impressed with their defence this season.
"When we get it right, our strength is we can score from just about anywhere on the park but some of our defence has, at different times, been really good.
"If we can combine both of them this Saturday we should be heading in the right direction."
They are taking on Blues for the fourth time this season with each side having won once as well as a draw just a fortnight ago.
Fronting up physically will be crucial for Athies.
"It’s going to won up front, down in the trenches, as you say.
"It’s going to be a good game of rugby and I can’t wait to get there."
OLD BOYS
Old Boys have come alive in the last two weeks to surge into the semifinals.
They were sitting in fifth place after the initial 10-match round robin. Big wins over Kurow (73-7) and Blues (29-24) in the two crossover rounds powered them to a playoff berth.
Their impressive run is more remarkable for the fact they had to default their round 10 game against Athletic Marist.
Old Boys will need to be at their best to knock off Valley in their semifinal match-up tomorrow.
