Hamilton Hawks will have no doubts they can beat Maitland in Saturday's match of the round at Marcellin Park.
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Maitland must believe they can and put a significant dent in the Hawks justifiable confidence in the process if they are to end Hamilton's four-year premiership reign.
That's the frank assessment of Blacks coach Matt Thomas going tin Saturday's top three battle between last year's grand finalists.
"The key to beating Hamilton is belief. We have the team to beat them but over the years Maitland has struggled to beat Hamilton purely by belief," Thomas said.
"Hamilton have the winning culture so they know no matter what they will win and we need to break that culture for them.
"When you have success your confidence grows and their confidence is red hot after winning four premierships.
"Our job as a massive under-dog is to take it down.
"We're pushing hard at the moment on ourselves taking these teams one at a time and really concentrating on our own belief, our own structure and our own way of how we are going to win this game.
"It is going to be a real up-tempo, in your face 80 minute performance. It can't be a 79 it must be an 80-minute performance against these top teams."
It is going to be a real up-tempo, in your face 80 minute performance.
- Matt Thomas
The Blacks will be boosted by their master of in-your-face and hard-hitting Nick Davidson who withdrew last week with a bout of food poisoning.
The squad will remain largely the same with Michael Howell coming into the second row and Hugues de Rocquigny playing on the flank.
Young try-scoring star Sam Parkinson who has notched up five tries in his first two games is expected to play after a slight hand injury late in last week's 48-0 win against Singleton.
"It's a massive game for us. It's going to be a great game of rugby for all grades.
"Hamilton second grade are undefeated, first grade have won four premierships in a row and their third grade team are coming first.
"Both sides have built up really good depth.
"We will need to match their effort from the bench.
"In the past they have worn teams down and brought on their big boys to run over the top. We are going to have to match them in that."
The Blacks, who are third on 48 points, play Southern Beaches and Lake Macquarie before a bye in the final round in the lead-in to the finals.
Ladder:
- Hamilton 54
- Wanderers 52
- Maitland 48
- Merewether 44
- Lake Macquarie 41
- Nelson Bay 26
- Singleton 14
- University 12
- Southern Beaches 2
