By Jon Geddes THE mind games have started in the countdown to Sunday’s preliminary final showdown between arch-rivals Gordon and Northern Suburbs, with Highlanders coach Brian Melrose describing his team’s opponents as “easily the favourites”. In a double-header at Rat Park this weekend, Gordon take on Norths while Sydney University tackle Eastwood in the early game, with the two winners advancing to the grand final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday week. “Norths and Uni are easily the favourites on the weekend because they have had the perfect preparation,” Melrose said, referring to the fact that both those sides had last week off. The Highlanders have staged an amazing resurgence to be one win away from a grand final appearance when it appeared they could have ended up as also rans midway through the season. The fact that neighbours Gordon and Norths are already fierce rivals adds even more spice to what is shaping up as a fiery sudden death clash on Sunday.