PORT City Breakers will have to emulate what cross-town rivals Port Macquarie Sharks did last year to keep the Group 3 rugby league first grade trophy in Port Macquarie.
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To do so, the Breakers will have to navigate their way through four sudden-death finals fixtures, starting with a road trip to Forster on Saturday.
The shield has stayed in the region for the last four years since the Sharks defeated the Breakers in the 2015 grand final.
Now, Breakers coach Dan Kemp knows there are no more tomorrow's.
"We have to win one at Forster, win at Wingham, win at Wauchope, win at Kempsey - four of them in a row in whatever order, but I don't really care," he said.
"Bring it on."
It will be the first time in five years the Breakers have been away from the familiar surrounds of Regional Stadium.
"It's a different type of footy, that's the reality and we've got to get excited for this type of footy," Kemp said.
After comprehensive victories in the last two weeks over Old Bar and Taree City where they scored 130 points in the process, the Port City coach is confident his team has what it takes.
They are looking forward to the challenge of finals footy and progressing deep into the competition.
"It's a very tall order, a tough ask and there's a reason why we're fifth so I'm not silly or naive, but I don't see why we can't," Kemp said.
"This week will be incredibly hard because Forster are the form team from what I've seen.
"They're very deliberate about how they play, have a very simple style of footy with a big pack and a really good kicking game.
"They chase hard, they work hard and will be hard to beat, but if we can beat them, I think we can give it a shake."
Port City will take confidence into the match despite their 22-16 defeat to Forster when the two teams last met on June 16.
"We took the foot off the throat and lacked a little bit of leadership that day," Kemp said.
"There was no AD, no Ant Cowan or Cody Robbins, but that was ages ago."
Kemp said the key to victory on Saturday was based around a no-frills game plan that included conceding minimal penalties and completing at a high rate.
"It's not about the best team, it's about who plays best on days like this," he said.
"The Sharks taught us that last year."
Port City will also be represented at Wingham on Sunday when both their reserve grade and under-18 teams play their second-versus-third semi-finals.
Their ladies league tag side are already through to next week while their under-16 girls will play in the first-ever Group 3 ladies tackle grand final on Sunday.
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