Hansells Wairarapa-Bush head north to Gisborne to take on second-placed Poverty Bay in the third game of this year's Heartland Championship tomorrow.
Coach Kelvin Tantrum said they would look to build on the positives from last week's game against Mid-Canterbury.
"We're a more than useful side when we're on song," Tantrum said.
"We
are working to take out the negatives and build on the positive side of our play."
Wairarapa-Bush demonstrated their capabilities in the first 20 minutes of last weekend's encounter at Memorial Park against Mid-Canterbury, taking the game to the visitors and running in two decent tries.
"We've got good systems in place, so long as everyone plays their part. It comes down to individual technique and decision-making," Tantrum said.
The first quarter was as good as it got, however. From there, mistakes such as missed tackles and wrong option-taking took a toll and cost them dearly.
"We've been working on our defence in training this week," Tantrum said. "We've concentrated on first-up tackles and our general urgency around the field.
"We let ourselves down a bit in those areas last Saturday."
Tantrum is under no illusions about the size of the task against Poverty Bay.
"Good sides will always take advantage of the other team's mistakes and make no mistake, they are a very good side. They must be, because they've already beaten Mid-Canterbury. We'll have to treat them with the greatest respect and play to our very best."
Tantrum said a couple of the backs missed training this week due to illness.
"It hindered our preparation a little bit, but that can't be helped and I'm confident we'll have everyone back on board and available for selection by the weekend."
One enforced change will see Dylan Higgison come in to the starting line-up at prop, replacing Jared Brock, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
Tantrum didn't see a problem.
"We lose absolutely nothing having Dylan come in to the side" he said.
"In fact, I'm really happy with the way the tight forwards are going. But like the rest of the team, they'll need to step up to the plate again this weekend."
Tomasi Kedrabuka and Te Raina Rimene also get call-ups, while Jess McGilvary returns to the bench after injury.
