The shackles have been taken off Hansells Wairarapa-Bush leading into their Heartland rugby championship Meads Cup playoff match with Buller at Westport on Saturday.
With their side desperately needing a win to stay in semi-final contention coaches Graham Cheetham and Lofty Stevenson are encouraging them to be inventive in their approach.
"We want them to have a go & if the opportunity is there to attack then let's do it," Cheetham said.
"We've probably gone a little too much into our shell lately, it's time to take a few risks and see what happens."
Cheetham said the recent losses to Horowhenua-Kapiti and Mid-Canterbury had done nothing to diminish the enthusiasm within the Wairarapa-Bush squad with Tuesday's training being one of the best of the season.
"If we can play with the same enthusiasm as we trained we should be OK, they were really firing into it," he said.
"You can't fault them in that respect & no way."
The big winner in the Wairarapa-Bush line-up which initially took the field against Mid-Canterbury is Puketoi utility forward Jared Bambry.
He was given a start at lock in that game because of Tomasi Kedrabuka's shoulder injury and played so well that despite Kedrabuka being fit for this weekend Bambry has retained his place in the starting XV.
Kedrabuka will be at lock there and Bambry on the blindside flank.
The recovery of hooker Joe Harwood from the sickness which allowed him to play only the first half of the Mid-Canterbury match is welcome news for Wairarapa-Bush as his combination of experience and aggression makes him a key member of the engine room.
He and fellow front rowers Brett Rudman and Shane TeMana will have a big job on their hands in Westport as Buller pride themselves on their scrummaging skills, and are sure to fancy their chances of dominating that department.
The onus too will be on openside flanker Jared Hawkins to build on the good impression he made in the first 40 minutes of the Mid-Canterbury match as the Buller loosies have big wraps on them as well.
Hopes are that Wairarapa-Bush will have their main attacking weapon on hand for the trip south with fullback Simanu Simanu recovering well from the groin strain which sidelined him last weekend.
His absence was sorely felt on that occasion.
The backline selection which will create the most interest though is that of Tapaga Isaac on the wing.
He has been in midfield in previous Heartland games but with Jon Guillard and Heemi Tupaea being paired there for the Buller match he has been moved to the wing in place of Jordan Fox.
The full Wairarapa-Bush squad for Saturday is: Simanu Simanu; Tapaga Isaac, Heemi Tupaea, Jon Guillard, Lance Stevenson; John Dodd; Hamish McKenzie; Mike Spence; Jared Hawkins, Dan Griffin, Tomasi Kedrabuka, Jared Bambry; Brett Rudman, Joe Harwood, Shane TeMana. Reserves: Mosese Gutuvakaca, Brendan Walker, Josh Mackey, Sully Alsop, Mike Hollis, Jordan Fox, Lauvi Lima.
Have a go approach encouraged by coaches
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