Easts have made a number of key backline changes and will need to sharpen up generally for Sunday’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup preliminary final.
Few clubs get the luxury of a noisy home ground advantage in the finals yet that is the luck of the draw that has the Tigers playing at Bottomley Park at 3:10pm.
The urging of the rowdy throng in the can bar corner will only come into play against Bond University if the Tigers get their detail right.
The Tigers have been honest with analysis of their 38-28 loss to Brothers in the major semi-final last weekend when they led 21-14 at one stage.
“Our kicking game needs to be better and, personally, I know I have to be better positionally,” Easts fullback Meli Dreu said.
While Dreu’s excellent right foot sidestep and timing propelled him to an an excellent early try, he was harsh on other aspects of his game.
“I was too shallow positionally in defence when (Brothers flyhalf) Harry Grant kicked that 50-22. Brothers went on to score from that,” Dreu said.
“Generally, there are things we have to sharpen up because we know how tough Bond can be.
“Pushing up in defence is one thing. You can’t be giving (Bond inside centre) Tyler Campbell any time and space because he can be a big factor for them.
“It’s great to have the home support, particularly from that one corner of the ground. We’ve had some big set piece moments in that corner.”
Coach Simon Craig agreed: "That support can certainly drag us over the line but we have to play smart first which is play territory, keep our discipline and build the pressure on Bond.
"Bond are a really gutsy footy team and we have respect for that."
In the pack, Nuku Swerling will be used off the bench at No.8 with George Stoddart starting.
Lachie Kirk comes in at flyhalf for Easts with youngster Sam McGahan to be used off the bench. Jake Pappin is back at inside centre which means Gus Godwin slides from the centres to the wing.
The Bull Sharks have been forced into their own backline change.
Sharp-stepping Tai Dowling has succumbed to the hamstring injury he sustained in the semi-final.
It was his alert dart from the ruck-base that set up the initial try for flyhalf Luke Depiazzi in the 34-0 stunner over Wests.
Rocco Gollings will step in at No.15.
Two big ins to instil confidence are Reds hooker George Blake and Wallabies squad lock Josh Canham.
Canham had two training sessions with the Bull Sharks this week which will have him synced as the team’s lineout trump.
His dexterity as a ball-winner throws down the gauntlet to Easts lineout leader Will Sankey.
On Saturday, Wests and Easts meet in the StoreLocal Founders Cup preliminary final for women at Norths Rugby Club at 4:55pm.
Wests will utilise backrower Dominika Bale for impact from the bench.
The Bulldogs were unbeaten for the season until running into three-time premiers Bond University in last week's major semi-final.
"You have to learn about finals footy and we took some good lessons away. We defended for close to 80 per cent of that semi-final and conceded only 22 points so there was definitely a strong tick for our defence," Wests coach Manny Cole-Manolis said.
"We do have to manage the game, take our opportunities better and put the pressure back on Easts on Saturday."
Easts will add Abbi Spooner to the backline which has the sharp speed of Piper Flynn as a strong plus.
It will be the culmination of a big day at Norths with five Colts and lower grade preliminary finals also on the menu.
All six knockout games involve Wests so there will be a big Bulldogs presence at the ground.
