UNBEATEN after seven rounds and full of confidence, the  Oberon Tigers are undoubtedly the form team of 2016 Group 10 premier league season.

It means St Pat’s know they will need to produce something special tomorrow at the Sportsground to avoid becoming victim number eight.

After sitting last weekend out with the bye, the Saints know plenty hinges on tomorrow’s match. A win could see them move from third into second, while a defeat  could drop them as far back as sixth should other results go against them as well.

While the Saints have recorded some strong victories – they have four wins from six outings – they are still lacking the consistency and control in attack that netted them the premiership two years ago.

However, the way Pat’s utilised their two weeks away from the playing field has given coach Kurt Hancock confidence heading into tomorrow’s match.

“We’re disappointed with the way we’ve played our first six games even though we’ve only dropped two of them. We’ve spoken about what we can do to improve at training. Our intensity there needs to improve ... but over the last two weeks it’s gotten back to the same level as the year we won the comp,” he said.

“As far as last week’s training and this week’s goes, I feel that we’re going to put in a good performance.

“Against Blayney we went in with a very up and down preparation and that’s pretty much how the match went. We’ve set standards as coaches and the players have shown they want to meet those as well.”

Oberon will be buoyed by the 42-20 win they posted against Blayney Bears last Sunday in what was a top-of-the-table meeting.

It extended their perfect record and Zac Rowlandson’s outfit would love to go into next week’s bye undefeated.

Given Oberon finished with  the wooden spoon last season, it has been a remarkable  turnaround. It reminds Hancock of his own team’s rise in quality when they won the competition in 2014.

“We were in a pretty similar situation. Once you get that juggernaut going success tends to come easily and you begin to make a habit of it. It’s hard for others to stop it,” he said.

“It’s great for Group 10 rugby league. They’ve bought the right personnel plus the locals have been supporting them well and getting right behind them. 

“Whenever you play a team like them you’ve got to be playing at your best. They’re definitely the benchmark this year and are favourites to win the comp.” 

Pat’s will welcome back hooker Benjamin John, front rower Jack Mackey and winger Adam Morton from injury tomorrow.

Hancock has also promoted Shannon Peters into the starting side, throwing him into the deep end at halfback, while regular number seven Antonio Ale has been shifted to fullback.

Peters’ inclusion comes after helping the Saints first division side to the top of the table with a glut of tries.

Tomorrow’s match starts at 2pm.

ST PAT’S: 1 Antonio Ale, 2 Adam Morton, 3 Cyp Ale, 4 Tyson Medlyn, 5 Nathan Lawrence, 6 Garry Reilly, 7 Shannon Peters, 8 Daniel Bain, 9 Benjamin John, 10 Brady Cheshire, 11 Nick Millar, 12 Travis Winanara, 13 Andy Adams, 14 Mitch Squires, 15 Chris De Young, 16 Jack Mackey, 17 TBA.