"We're going over there expecting a really good fight. We know it's hard to win over there when they have home ground advantage. Being a Māori club versus a Māori club, it's going to be a good battle.
"We haven't won over there for a while, so we're going over there with a lot of incentive," Francis said.
Rotoiti's other incentive is keeping their top four hopes alive.
"Pretty much if we lose this weekend it's gone. We need to probably win the next two with bonus points, we'll be in a good place, depending on other results. But, we want to have our destiny in our own hands."
Our referees doing the Mahi 💪🏽
We are celebrating National Volunteer Week (17-23 June) by highlighting the positive...
Posted by Bay of Plenty Rugby on Monday, 18 June 2018
Meanwhile, after their Tai Mitchell Shield win over Rotoiti the week before, Whakarewarewa came crashing back to earth with a 46-17 loss to Te Puke last weekend.
Tomorrowthey travel to seventh-placed Mount Maunganui.
Whakarewarewa coach Boxer Smith said struggles at lineout time made it tough for them to have any possession against Te Puke.
"One positive from the week before was that we had sorted out our scrum, that went backwards against Rotoiti. We've had a couple of front-rowers come back. But, we fell away a bit in our lineouts.
"We've lost our main lineout caller ... so we've had to try to put a bit of leadership on one of our other locks, it was just communication. The tall timber of Te Puke dominated the lineout and we lost probably 70-80 per cent of our ball. Set piece is so crucial and that's been a big work-on this week."
When Whakarewarewa played Mount Maunganui in round one they lost 38-20, but Smith said this weekend's game was one in which they were targeting a win.
"After watching them play Rotoiti we've seen a big change in the Mount from the first two games. I can assure you now, it's not going to be easy so we have to go over there prepared to fight for the points. It's going to be hard.
"The Mount are tough at home and they'll be confident after beating Rotoiti. But, this is a game we've targeted, we probably need to get at least another two wins out of these last four games [to make semifinals]," he said.
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Club Rugby draw
Saturday
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1
Premier kickoff: 2.45pm
Development kickoff: 1pm
Rangataua v Rotoiti at Te Ariki Park
Te Puke v Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium
Mount Maunganui Sports v Whakarewarewa at Blake Park
Tauranga Sports v Greerton Marist at Tauranga Domain
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 2
Premier kickoff: 2.45pm
Development kickoff: 1pm
Whakatane Marist v Waikite at Rugby Park
Marist St Michael's v Ngongotaha at Marist Park
Te Teko v Opotiki at Dunderdale Park
Rangiuru v Arataki at Centennial Park
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division One
Kickoff: 2.45pm
Waimana v Papamoa at Waimana Domain
Kahukura v Poroporo at Kuirau Park
Paroa v Ruatoki at Lawson Park
Judea v Murupara at Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division Two
Kickoff: 2.45pm
Eastern Districts v Matata at Paengaroa
Edgecumbe v Katikati at Edgecumbe Domain
Eastern Pirates v Reporoa at Neil Hunt Park
