Coaching Insider: Round 23

Wests Tigers Coach Ivan Cleary says his side feel comfortable with the pressure ahead of them tomorrow afternoon as they look to stay in touch with the top eight.

With the Brisbane Broncos posting a big win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night, Cleary's side now find themselves four points adrift of the top eight with three games remaining — meaning a loss to the St. George-Illawarra Dragons on Saturday would all but end their hopes at a finals finish.

However, with tomorrow's game and the early game scheduled for Round 24, Cleary said his side understood what was at stake and the opportunity that still exists to finish inside the top eight.

"I didn't watch the game last night but I was checking the score," Cleary told reporters on Friday.

"It makes our job a little bit harder, but the good news for us is we play twice before they play again so the ball is in our court there — starting with the Dragons tomorrow night.

"All we can do is win and put the pressure back on [the Broncos]," he added.

"Their win last night has put a bit more of a gap between us but the chance to play twice is good for us.

"But we've got win the first game first; we understand that."

Despite losing four of their past five and coming in to Saturday's game without England international half Gareth Widdop, the Coach emphasised that it would be foolish to count out the Red V's chances — highlighting the depth of talent they have across the park and their dominance throughout the year so far.

"The Dragons have been really good all year," Cleary enthused.

"The last few weeks they've had a few losses, but that happens to every team. 

"We know we're going to face a pretty determined side tomorrow night and we're preparing for that.

"They're chock full of internationals and Origin players and even someone like Kurt Mann has played a lot of football in different positions in that team so I'm sure they'll still bring a good game tomorrow night.

"For us, we're on the other side of the coin where we've won four of the last five; the boys are feeling really confident and since Robbie and Moses has come in to the team, our combinations have really grown.

"There's every reason why we should go in to tomorrow night's game with plenty of confidence."

See what Coach Ivan Cleary had to say in full about this week's game in the video above!