Rugby union

IT ALL comes down to 80 minutes for their season.

The Griffith Blacks' effort since the beginning of pre-season training hinges on their performance against the Albury Steamers, as they attempt to sneak in the back door to the Southern Inland Rugby premier competition finals.

After their heart-stopping one-point win over Young last weekend, the Blacks gave themselves one last chance to keep their premiership dreams alive when they host the red-hot Albury side at Coro Club Oval tomorrow.

Captain-coach Luke McKay said his side will need to keep up its intensity or risk throwing away a season that saw them undefeated after the first six rounds.

"I think that sort of urgency that it was a must-win game against Young really came through in the second-half and our performance then reflected that as it has to this weekend," McKay said.

"Albury have got a fair roll on at the moment so I don't think they'll be just coming up here for a game even though they're safely in the finals.

"They will really want to keep their momenteum going forward after they beat Ag College last weekend."

McKay and Darren Kidd will be out to extract a measure of revenge on the Steamers after the pair missed their side's round nine clash due to representative duties, which Griffith subsequently lost 35-0.

"It was absolutely a turning point in our season and it started a very low period from then until when we played Aggies the other week," McKay said of the side's thrashing.

Since then the Blacks have gone back to what worked for them earlier in the year with their sliding defence and aggression at the breakdown improving dramatically.

That same presence when the ball hits the deck will be needed again if Griffith is to break down the Albury defence to earn the bonus-point they need to give themselves every chance of taking the last finals place.

While a win is still enough to keep them in the running, Griffith would need other results to go their way.