Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) men's coach Jonno Andreou believes his team is still capable of taking out the Capital Sevens title.
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The SIRU men's team sit third on the table after the opening round in Canberra last weekend but are just one win from top spot heading into the final stage at Wagga on Saturday.
SIRU will be boosted by the inclusion of Dylan McLachlan, Steven Tracey and Pat Logan for Saturday's second round and Andreou believes his team will also be much better for the experience of last weekend.
"Obviously we know what we have to play against, it's that next level up and you don't really know what it's going to be like until you turn up," Andreou said.
"So I think the boys have an expectation now for the level that we need to be at and I think we could have won each of those games that we played in on the weekend so I think the expectation is to improve obviously and taking it out would be a good step."
Andreou hopes to take out the second stage, a result that would put them in contention for the overall title.
Gungahlin, who beat SIRU 26-7, are the leaders.
"Then it just depends on for and against as to who takes out the whole tournament over the two rounds," he said.
"We're sitting third at the moment. Gungahlin, the team to beat, had a loss so none of the men's teams went through undefeated so if beat Gungahlin on the weekend and don't lose a game we should be quite close."
The SIRU women's team went through undefeated and only conceded two tries on a stunningly successful opening foray into the tournament.
However, a number of Brumbies SuperW players are likely to be available for their opponents in the second round of the tournament in Wagga.
SIRU women's coach Elliot Barrett is confident his team can rise to the challenge.
"It will be a bit tougher, the girls know it will be a bit tougher and know the teams we played will have a point to prove and I think they're ready for the challenge," Barrett said.
He was not surprised by their opening day's performance.
"Not really, with the talent that is in the squad," he said.
"I was a bit uncertain as to how we'd go because a lot of the girls hadn't played together but that proved to be no problems at all."
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