THE equation facing the Bathurst Bulldogs when they host the Dubbo Kangaroos in Sunday’s Central West Rugby Union minor semi-final at Ashwood Park could not be more simple – lose and it is season over, win and a grand final is within reach.

After finishing the regular season in third place, Bulldogs had the chance to progress to the first grand final qualifier.

It was an opportunity they failed to seize, going down to Orange Emus 39-24 in last Saturday’s major preliminary semi-final.

So while Emus play Orange City tomorrow for a place in the grand final, Bulldogs will fight the Kangaroos for survival. 

Dubbo have already avoided elimination once and in emphatic fashion, crushing Mudgee 41-7 last Sunday.

Last year the Bulldogs reached this stage of the competition without being able to advance further and if their prior results against Dubbo in 2015 are any indication, tomorrow’s match will be a close affair.

The Bulldogs picked up a 31-13 win on ANZAC Day at Ashwood Park in their first meeting of 2015, before a much stronger and rejuvenated Kangaroos side toughed it out for a 21-15 victory in the second round.

While Dubbo are a side in form, Bulldogs co-coach Scott Johnston believes that he has got the side to win Sunday’s match.

“We’ve beaten them this season and only just lost to them up there [in Dubbo]. We lost, but it was a great game. We go into this with confidence knowing that,” he said.

“They did have players out when we beat them, but I’m honestly more excited about the game we lost. We dropped the ball and they ran 80 metres to score and then we were held up over the line on full-time. 

“There wasn’t a great deal in it and it’s good going into this knowing that.”

While Dubbo were able to overcome a flat start against Mudgee to run in five tries, as well as picking up a penalty try, a slow beginning cost the Bulldogs last weekend.

The Bathurst outfit found themselves 25-0 down and while fighting back after that, Johnston knows his team must be focussed from the opening whistle at Ashwood Park.

“We were down 22-0 before we really started playing football. It was a pleasing second half, but we’ve got to fix that start,” Johnston said.

“It wasn’t that we did anything majorly wrong. We dropped a bit of ball, but they just kept us pinned in our own half then they’d score points off it. It’s just only tweaking a few little things we’ve got to do.”

The Roos’ size and strength – Moa Kavaefiafi pulling off a brutal hit that led to a try last Sunday – isn’t a concern for Johnston. 

He believes his team has matched up well in that department across both meetings this year.

“Dubbo are a tough and physical side and you seem to remember playing them the Monday and Tuesday the following week,” he said.

“It won’t be easy. They like to bash you around, but those physical games we’ve had this year are ones we’ve tended to deal with pretty well.”

Bulldogs have been forced to alter the side which took to the field last Saturday, talented outside centre Tom Joseph ruled out with an ankle injury.

Johnston will shift from fullback to cover the position left vacant by Joseph, while former premiership player Phil Tonkin returns to the starting line up in jumper 15.

Action in first grade starts from 3.15pm on Sunday at Ashwood Park.

BATHURST BULLDOGS: 1 Aaron Booby, 2 Mark Donnelly, 3 Sean Fogarty, 4 Izaak Breen, 5 Lachlan Bull, 6 Ollie Barclay, 7 Adam Dwyer, 8 Peter Fitzsimmons, 9 Dylan Sinclair, 10 Steven Locke (c), 11 Kurt Weekes, 12 Josh Lee, 13 Scott Johnston, 14 Fali Liva, 15 Phil Tonkin.