NSW Waratahs playmaker Jack Bowen understands few outside of Daceyville expect them to defeat the Blues on Saturday, embracing the underdog tag.
The Waratahs are already in finals mode after last week's crucial win over the Western Force in Perth in Super Time.
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Bowen missed a penalty to win the game in the final minutes before making up for it with the winning pass to Darby Lancaster as the winger dived over in the corner.
“I've actually got to thank 'Darbs' for saving my back," Bowen joked, re-living the moment to media.
“I was really confident going into the kick. Like as a kicker, you want to kick those kicks, and that is what you dream about as a kid, having those shots to win but once I missed, I knew I had to make up for it somehow, get the ball to ‘Darbs’ and see what he can do.
"I thought the whole team as well, we moved the ball really well for how wet it was out there, and we were really composed in extra-time, which we don't get too often."
The NSW Waratahs' finals hopes rest on winning at Eden Park for the first time since 2009 - and hoping Moana Pasifika lose to the Hurricanes.
Only staff Tom Carter and Dan Palmer are left from that win, with Bowen believing the nature of the game will free up the side.
“This week is our semi-final … to go over there and treat it as a semi-final and earn another week is really exciting,” Bowen said. “Going over there and doing something that a Waratahs side hasn’t done for a decade is something that is really exciting.
“...It’s a big game for both sides, and outside these walls probably no one is expecting us to go over there and get it done.
“That takes the pressure off us and eases us up a little, but it’s a massive challenge we are going to be up for, and we have to go over and beat them. They are not going to beat themselves. We have to go and attack them.”
Past Waratahs teams have gone into Eden Park comfortable with just taking a 'swing' at the Blues.
However, this time is different.
Bowen, who debuted at Eden Park in 2023 for the Waratahs, was taking confidence out of the Brumbies' recent win in knowing there is a formula for Australian sides to get it done at what's been considered a graveyard in past years.
“A massive thing is the mindset, going over there and genuinely believing we can win,” he added.
“We genuinely have the belief this week that we can go over there and beat them.
"...I think the Brumbies winning over there obviously gives us confidence and seeing that Aussie side can go over there and do it.
"But I think it's got to come from these internal wars and genuinely believe that we can do it. I think that's where it's going to come from. As a playing group, I thought we trained really well today and given ourselves the best shot at going over there and getting a job done."
