Former Bushpig Luke Schulz is expecting a huge occasion at Coleambally on Saturday when he goes up against his old club.
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The Blues backman missed last year due to university commitments but after moving to Griffith, he joined Coleambally in the off-season excited to get back into footy.
"It's been really good, meeting new blokes. I'm enjoying it a heap. They make you feel really welcome coming to town and you've got all the families around and helping out," Schulz said.
After the Blues signalled their seriousness about finals with last week's upset win against Marrar, there's a buzz in the air for a second straight home game at Coleambally, against another team itching to break into the five.
"I think it's taken us a while to gel together but we've got some good skills within the side and we saw last week that if we stick together we can get the job done," he said.
"That felt pretty good, it got everyone motivated to keep going and I think it's only going to go up from here."
Charles Sturt University are also coming off a confidence-boosting second win of the season and - if the Northern Jets are beaten by North Wagga - the winner could move into fifth spot.
"We're both sitting pretty close together on the ladder so it'll be a pretty big game I believe," Schulz said.
"I haven't seen the Bushpigs and their side's changed a bit since I last played. But Louis Miller is a good player and Jack Thompson down back, he's a pretty good defender, I played a bit with him.
"Our tackles were really up last week, just our pressure, and I reckon that was a big factor. Coming off that, we should be flying into tomorrow. It'll be a good contest."
Schulz, 24, has played all over the ground in his footy career but has found a home in the Blues backline. Coleambally co-coach Mitch Carroll said Schulz has brought consistency to his position and played an important role last week.
"He's been playing very tight down back on his opponents," Carroll said, and echoed Schulz's thoughts on the importance of the sixth-v-seventh contest.
"CSU will probably be very similar to us. They obviously beat the Jets very well last weekend and played a good four quarters so they'll be coming in bang full of confidence as well.
"Both of us are coming off a good win so it should be a good game."
Mitch Dunbar comes in for Coleambally, with Chris Smith going out, while Dean Pound has been named as an emergency. The Bushpigs remain without co-captain Brayden Ambler while Rob Herzfeld's appearance last week was a one-off.
Meanwhile, Carroll said a clearance for former Coleambally star Simon Mackie to return was submitted as much in hope as anticipation this week.
The former Blues key position player is completing his introduction to the army at Kapooka but may be available later in the season.
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