By Henry Jacobs

Eastwood host Warringah for a consecutive week when the 2015 Shute Shield quarter finals begin at T.G. Millner on Saturday.

John Manenti’s side claimed a 31-24 victory over the Rats last week but won’t let the result give it false confidence.

“It’s not difficult to avoid complacency, we weren’t particularly good last week and we know if anything we have given them some confidence in thinking that they can come and do a job on us here,” Manenti told Rugby News.

“The reality is that the first 18 weeks of the season are all about just making the finals, now we’re all effectively on zero points now and we’re all playing for our lives.

“They were good in areas last week, but I’m sure they’ll think they can be better as we certainly think we can be better, so it should be one hell of a game and a pretty entertaining one at that I’d imagine.”

Whilst Warringah has lost its past two matches, the side showed it is capable of going all they way with a remarkable come from behind victory over Manly in Round 16.

Eastwood will have to combat a consistently strong scrum, halves pairing and outside backs in order to keep the Rats at bay.

“To be competitive and to be where they [Warringah] are this time of season isn’t done on the back of one or two guys, you have got to have strength across the park,” Manenti said.

“Warringah have lots of points of attack, they’ve got plenty of points in them, so we’ve got to defend well, finals football is traditionally a defence orientated game that takes a while to crack open and obviously if you defend better it will go a long way to winning the game.”

Whilst a defensive mindset is key to finals success it is attacking prowess that has been a trademark of Eastwood’s season.

The ‘Woods have racked up 799 points at an average of 44 per match this year and will continue to have a license to play free flowing rugby, despite the magnitude of the occasion.

“You have to play your way and style, we’re not going to reinvent the wheel because it’s finals, it’s about building pressure not just scoring tries from 100 meters out,” said Manenti.

Last weeks injury to electric winger John Grant is a blow to Eastwood’s attacking mindset, he is the competition’s second top try scorer with 15 in the regular season and will be sorely missed.

Nick Batger will fill the void as he links up with his brother in the back three.

Eastwood can still hypothetically make the finals with a loss on Saturday, as a Manly win over Randwick would see it go through as the highest placed loser, however it will be hoping to keep it’s destiny firmly in it’s own hands.

“Form and the table might suggest that Manly at home will win but you just can’t rely on that, we have to make sure we just try and live to fight another day,” said Manenti.

“All the games will be closely contended and all six teams have a legitimate shot at going all the way, whoever can put it together the best over the next three weeks is going to be the that team.”

Eastwood host Warringah in the quarterfinals of the Shute Shield at T.G. Millner at 3pm on Saturday.