GUNNEDAH upset the apple cart when it rolled North Tamworth 39-38 earlier in the year and fully expects the Group 4 premiers to be out for blood when they meet again at Jack Woolaston Oval this Sunday.

That loss may have ruined North’s chances of winning its fourth straight minor premiership and another loss to the Bulldogs would make beating West Lions for that prize almost impossible.

“They’re a proud club and over the last few years they haven’t lost to too many sides,” Gunnedah captain-coach Damien Connor said.

“We worked hard and won that game on our merits and I think that hurt for those reasons.

“I have no doubt that they have been waiting for this game ever since.

“And that’s good for us because if you’re a good footballer you want to play against good sides in form.

“We expect a North Tamworth really playing at top form.”

The Bulldogs have slumped to five straight losses and find themselves fifth on the G4 ladder, having been in the top three all season until last week’s defeat at Wee Waa.

Reversing that downward trend might prove difficult against the Bears but another win would be just the boost they need.

“It’s the end of a tough run after playing West, Wee Waa and them in a row,” Connor said.

“You can’t rule it out but we’re not playing as well as we’d like to be.

“We just have to get back to playing good footy.

“We don’t have to worry about the finals or how many we have to win and how many we don’t.

“If you’re playing good football you’ll make the finals.”

The Bears haven’t been in the best form lately either, with a narrow win over Coonabarabran last week the latest in a string of unconvincing performances.

“But that’s what good sides do, they win when they’re not playing well,” Connor said.

“They’ve got one of the best lists in the comp and they’re only two points off the top.

“They’re going to explode one day because they’ve got too many good players not to.

“I just hope it’s not this weekend.

“But it will happen some time and we’re treating them very much as the reigning premiers.

“Everyone’s talking about their indifferent form but they’re still picking up two points every week.”

In Sunday’s other games, West Lions travel to Narrabri and Moree will defend its place in the top four when it hosts Coonabarabran.

Wee Waa has the first grade bye.