Pikiao prepare for home semifinal

BIG GAME: Pikiao Warriors' Scotty Evans takes a hit-up against Mangakino when the sides met in June. PHOTO/FILE

Pikiao have the opportunity to take a big step on their quest for the Bay of Plenty/Coastline premier rugby league title.They host Mangakino in a semifinal tomorrow and, having finished the round robin on top, a win will ensure they play either Pacific or Otumoetai at home in the final.

Pikiao know that, on their day, they can beat any team in the competition, however coach Jason Parata was wary of the threat Mangakino posed.

"We've beaten them twice this year - not convincing wins, but wins. They're getting stronger, and there's nothing to lose for both sides," Parata said.

The last time these sides met Pikiao made life hard for themselves as they let Mangakino get out to a 22-12 lead with 30 minutes to play, before coming back to win 32-24.

"No comeback this time, hopefully we can get out to a lead and hold it.

"We're focusing on our defence again, that's what wins matches. If we can defend well it will go a long way to us winning the game.

"They surprised us that last game, jumping out to an early lead, we were on the backfoot.

"They play a very physical style and they have a very good halfback with a really good kicking game. Their kick and chase is good and they're staunch up the middle.

"We'll just try and hold them in the middle - run hard and tackle hard."

Parata said to be knocked out in a semifinal, after such a successful season, would be "incredibly disappointing".

"We've had a good season up until now, our turnaround this year has been huge, our culture has changed dramatically. But, this is the business time of the year, it's worth nothing if we come first and then lose in the first knockout game.

"The boys have talked about that, this is what we've trained the last seven months for," he said.

Mangakino coach George Samuels, who is in his first year of coaching after playing for eight years, said his side were focusing on preparing for the game mentally and on each player performing their roles effectively.

"One more night of fitness isn't going to help at this point in the season, it's more mental preparation for us and our performance on the day.

"The last four games we've had three wins and a draw so we are riding fairly high, but our feet are firmly on the ground."

Samuels said his side learned some valuable lessons the last time they played Pikiao.

"For us it's playing the whole 80 minutes. We certainly felt we had them under the pump but in rugby league it only takes one try, one hit-up to turn the whole thing around.

"[Pikiao] have a pretty mobile forward pack, to be honest they have firepower all over the field. For us, we need to play a smart game and not buy into playing a mongrel game."

The game will be played at Puketawhero Park and kickoff is at 2.30pm.