As much as the Rams will try to focus on the task at hand, it's only natural for the Bible Hill-based squad to look ahead to Sunday's match against the Mount Allison Mounties.
No disrespect to the Blue Devils, but tomorrow's expected first-place showdown is what the Rams have been preparing for since the first meeting between the teams on Sept. 28.
"Mount A is definitely our rival," said Rams coach David Cotterill. "I can't remember the last time we ever beat Mount A in a final, or even beat them."
Indeed, the Mounties have had the Rams' number in recent years - this season included. Mount Allison scored a late try to edge Dal/AC 20-15 in the only other meeting between the teams this season in Sackville, N.B.
The Rams, however, took positives from the game, said Cotterill.
"Other than if we won, I couldn't have been happier with how that game turned out," he said. "Now I think just adding to what we did, seeing what works and what doesn't, and seeing how they play ...
"Now we have to adapt our game plan to what they're going to be used to seeing from us, and we've got little things that we have incorporated and I'm really excited to play them again, especially at home."
Mount Allison (2-0) sits atop the three-team conference, ahead of the Rams (1-1) and Blue Devils (0-2). Following the regular season, the top two teams will play for the conference championship in early November.
The Rams look forward to the opportunity of knocking the Mounties off their perch tomorrow at the Farnham Mill Rugby Park.
"We're really excited," said Georgia Lewis, Rams third-year scrum half. "We just really want to have a lot of people out to watch us and that will get us going for sure."
Cotterill served as an assistant coach of the Rams for four previous seasons before taking the head coaching reins this year and said he is most impressed with players' commitment and desire to represent their school.
He added a key component to their success on the pitch is the team's versatility.
"This year everybody is total rugby," said Cotterill. "Everybody has the ability to play everywhere and there's threats all over the field. People can move into every position and there's a lot of experience out there, and I'd say the fitness has been surprisingly good for having such a short season."
Dal/AC, formerly NSAC, will be sporting flashy, new uniforms for the first time this weekend.
Weekend schedule
(At Farnham Mill Rugby Park)
Saturday
Dal/AC Rams vs. King's Blue Devils, 3 p.m.
Sunday
Dal/AC Rams vs. Mount Allison Mounties, 3 p.m.
