Rugby league: Port Macquarie Sharks prepare to face Taree City Bulls

But it's been hard not to be impressed with the Sharks' results - three wins and a draw - from the opening four rounds.

Their season could have been over before it started when the March floods resulted in a restructure to the season draw and a subsequent trips on the road in succession.

That would have been enough for most clubs to start and feel sorry for themselves, but not Port Macquarie with coach David Geary admitting they love to be written off.

"It's always how it's been - us against them - so we have to make our own luck because we don't get a lot of it from third parties, but that's how we do like it," he said.

"Each club steps up to play us each week and we're happy with that; we'll keep worrying about us."

Geary knows the team faces arguably it's toughest challenge this Sunday when they head to Taree to tackle the winless Bulls.

Their feet, however, remain firmly on the ground.

"We say it every week that we haven't achieved anything this season yet," he said.

"From mine and Kel's experience - we've both won grand finals and know what it takes to get to the pointy end of the season and there are a lot of things to do between now and then.

"We haven't lost after four rounds, but that can quickly change if we take our foot off the pedal."

Port Macquarie's freewheeling attack has been the highlight although the coach wants a better effort defensively.

"We've been working on our first contact with the ball and giving the guys little challenges each week like dominate the tackle and getting three into the tackle," Geary said.

"The last couple of weeks we've been working on wrestling and getting teams onto their backs."

The Sharks are currently battling an injury crisis of their own and despite only taking it a week at a time, they have one eye on the June long weekend.

"We're carrying a lot of injuries at the moment, but we will be back to full strength after the long weekend minus one player."

Chris Piper is expected to return from suspension in round 11.

In his absence, the forward pack has been well led by the unheralded Matt Jones, Ray Shipway and Dylan Clarke.

"I don't think Matt Jones has been flying under the radar because his football has improved so much and he can play 80 minutes easily.

"Ray has been good, can play 80 and goes about his business and is always there and Dylan Clarke in the second row has been really good find over the off-season."

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