By MARK CASHMAN

Gordon coach Darren Coleman knows a little bit about revving up a big game like their encounter against the Warringah Rats on Saturday.

Three seasons in charge of the Rats meant that he was knee deep in the twice annual northern beaches derby that has always seen a few hand grenades thrown into the opposition camp in game week.

This week it has been a bit harder with the obvious friendship that ‘DC’ has with Rats boss Mike Ruthven, forged from their time together down at Pittwater Rugby Park.

But still he managed to throw in a couple of rev ups and leg pulls in the hours before kickoff.

“There is always extra spice when you take on your old club and colleagues,” Coleman said.

“‘Rivvo’ is a good young coach with credible aspirations that Aussie Rugby needs to get behind and develop.

“That said, I’m more worried about Rivvo’s son Wilson’s ball-boying tactics. The Sydney Rugby union needs to have good look at this,” Coleman added laughing, his tongue firmly in his cheek

On the footy Coleman feels he knows the triggers that make his opposition tick and is ready to use that for the Highlanders’ betterment on Saturday.

“I make about four or five new faces into their team since I was there two years ago, so you like to think you know their boys pretty well,” he said.

“They came back into some good form against Easts and will be buoyed by that performance.

“Limiting the enterprise of their back three young guns (Ben Woolett, Ben Marr and Charlie Tupu) will be crucial to the ‘W’ as will keeping Sam Ward, Sam Needs and Josh Holmes away from the referee.

“The beauty of our sport is I look forward to hosting and helping my good friends from the Rats drown their sorrows in all grades after a good day of Shute Shield footy.”

Warringah head coach Ruthven is remaining calm and says he will look for a consistent and measured performance from his side.

“We have had a good week to prepare for what will be a really tough game. Gordon are playing a fast, expansive brand of footy, complimented by a tough, hard working forward pack,” he said.

“Our focus this week has been on consistency. We have shown patches of good footy over the last few weeks and we now need to produce that for longer periods in order to walk away satisfied with our performance.

“The players have worked hard this week and we are confident based on that. The team deserve a good performance and no better opportunity to do it against one of the competition favourites.”

GORDON (1-15):
Brandon Faavae-Eli, Mahe Vailanu, Rhys Brodie/Bosco Tagaloa, Jack Margin, Brendan Mitchell/Pete Tagaloa, Tom Silk, James Lough, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Brandon Quinn, Tautalatasi Tasi, Lucas Price, Ahmu Tuimalealiifano, Jaline Graham.

WARRINGAH (1-15):
Jayden Taylor, Wes Thomas, Sam Needs, Andrew Davies, Sam Ward (c), Rory Suttor, Mungo Mason, Charlie McKill, Josh Holmes, Tom Halse, Charlie Tupu, Tyson Davis, Seb Wileman, Ben Woolett, Ben Marr.

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY