Paul Hausia knows the Geurie revolution has not only changed things within the club in recent years, it's also changed the way the rest of the competition looks at the Goats.
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"We've gone from the team no-one wants anything to do with to the team everyone wants to beat," he said.
The former whipping boys went through the competition unbeaten last year, but 2019 hasn't been completely straightforward for the defending premiers.
The Goats have had a target on their back, they've been hit by injury, and they've had key men miss games on a pretty regular occasion.
But they're still in the hunt.
After downing Coolah in a close-fought minor semi-final last weekend the Goats travel to Molong on Saturday knowing a win will put them in the Oilsplus Cup grand final.
"That's the aim," Hausia said of the decider, where Wellington awaits.
"But we can worry about that after this weekend."
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The coach admits he had "too many" players to choose from last season, but this season has been a frustrating one as injuries, cross-code duties in Group 11, and work commitments has taken a toll and left the Goats short at times and contributed to the side finishing the regular season in third.
A number of players have returned in recent weeks and while the coach knows it takes a lot more than one player to win games at this stage of the season, he's also aware the inclusion of Filisione Pauta is massive ahead of Saturday's preliminary final clash with the Magpies.
Pauta has been in and out of the side this season, partly due to his selection in the Central West and NSW Country representative squads and also because of his rugby league commitments with the Macquarie Raiders in Group 11.
He missed the Goats' 30-17 loss to Molong in the final round of the regular season but he was back in the number 10 jersey last weekend and helped the Goats down Coolah 35-17.
"Having Filise out, that key player missing left a massive hole. He just calms it down," Hausia said of the last game against Molong.
"Having that key person in the key position, he can just have the ball on a string.
"He knows when to go and when not to and when he switches it on people follow.
"It takes more than one bloke but having a key person in that key position makes the others at ease."
The service Pauta can provide for the Goats backline will be vital in the do-or-die fixture, but the Goats' ability to shut down the opposition backs will also go a long way to deciding the contest at the Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground.
The Magpies' backs have tore numerous lineups to shreds this season, with Zac White in particular delivering the kind of performances which make him one of the competition's best players.
"There's a few young blokes there who have matured in the past three or four years and now they're really showing their talent," Hausia said.
"We've got key backs as well and they're up for the challenge."
The motivation and belief is still there within the Goats side, insists Hausia, but cutting out the "silly errors" is the other key for his side.
"We need to cut those out and not panic," he said.
"I said to the boys we're not showing the ball the respect it deserves. It takes patience in attack and then in defence we need to be there when needed."
Kick-off in Saturday's preliminary final is 3.15pm.