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ITS only taken 10 weeks for combinations to gel, but Coffs Breakers are primed to launch a late surge toward defending their Mid North Coast Rugby premiership. Captain-coach Dylan Hurley is back in the centres for todays clash with South West Rocks at Smithtown Oval and despite late changes forced by injury and unavailability, he believes the side can cement their credentials by adding to a growing list of conquests. Unfortunately, Kelvin Rushworth is a late withdrawal with a bung shoulder, but its better to allow another week to recuperate, rather than cop a knock and lose him for longer, he said. But were looking more settled by the week and its important we keep building winning momentum. Hurley admits the Gaolers are always an unknown quantity on home soil and zone administrator Des Hoy will have plenty of work checking credentials on Monday. If they run on some Macleay Valley Mustangs at the last minute it can totally change the game, he said. I suppose it makes them a bit mysterious and I know they caused problems when they came up to play Crushers a couple of weeks ago, but were still pretty confident. As far as leaguies are concerned, Hurleys very own cross-code traveller Jono Jones continues to impress in both disciplines. Hes going great right now, but with the semis coming up, my only fear is Sawtell Panthers end up playing the same day as us, he said. Last year he backed up day-to-day with no problems and won both premierships, but if we clash, you cant be in two places at once and I hope he isnt forced to choose. Stablemates Coffs Crushers visit Port Pirates at Stuart Park needing at least two wins with a bonus point from their last three games to be a chance of pushing up into second spot. Pirates revealed plenty of weaknesses last week and beating them is not out of the equation. But Crushers will do it tough missing fly-half Angus Garland with a back injury and losing front-rowers Craeg Pow and Cameron Wainright to the casualty clearing station for the rest of the season. In their favour is having the two Matts  Joyce and Hoy  available again and being able to boast David Kikau and Vilese Vatuvili in raging hot form following their short tour of Queensland with the MNC Axemen.

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