PERHAPS it isn't the best time for Port Macquarie to face Wingham on Sunday.
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The Sharks are on a two-game losing streak, while the Tigers have won their last four straight, including a 24-22 victory over Macleay Valley three weeks ago.
Wingham have also scored 140 points in the last month, so it comes as little surprise Sharks coach Ben Kirkland is wary.
"The form they're in is pretty ominous and they're building into the team they said they were going to be at the start of the year," Kirkland said.
"When you don't start well at Wingham it can be a pretty daunting place to go because the crowd is right on top of you."
The experience of Sharks hooker Joey Cudmore along with teammates such as Scott Grant will be integral to keeping their young teammates focused on the job at hand.
"Joey's a favourite son down there so he knows what to expect," Kirkland said.
"Being a young side, you can see they're down (on confidence) a bit, but we still think we can go and win."
Port Macquarie have hit a few speed bumps over the last couple of weeks with a 36-18 defeat to Wauchope backed up by a disappointing 16-4 loss to Forster last weekend.
"We didn't push up around the footy which is what we pride ourselves on and that was disappointing because we play off second-phase," he said.
"I'd be really disappointed if we did that again this weekend."
The key to a surprise victory for the Sharks will come with their ability to limit the amount of attacking opportunities provided by Tigers hooker Mitch Collins.
Their veteran halves pairing of Mick Sullivan and Danny Russell would then play off the back of that.
"If we give them the footy at the wrong end of the ground they'll carve us up," Kirkland said.
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