DESPERATION can make footy teams do funny things, even win games they aren't expected to.

Brothers coach Robbie Swain knows Kangaroos’ desperation levels will be at a season high tomorrow when the Mooroobool club visit Stan Williams Park for arguably the match of the round.

Roos are in a scrap for fifth spot on the Cairns District Rugby League ladder with Yarrabah, who also have a must-win game tomorrow against Mossman-Port Douglas.

Brothers’ top-five hopes are not in jeopardy, with the reigning premiers sitting on top of a ladder after only suffering one loss so far in 2012.

But with Innisfail lurking four points behind in second, Swain said Brothers had to win their last three matches to make sure they remained first.

"It’s going to come down to these last couple of games, even for us," Swain said. "We have to win these last few games to make sure we finish on top and Roos are fighting for that fifth spot.

"They’re going to come out firing on Sunday, so it should be a cracking game."

While Brothers have been in superb attacking form all season, Swain said defence was the area he wanted to focus on in the coming month.

"We really want to shore up that part of our game," he said.

"Last week against Mareeba, they scored 34 points against us and we weren’t really happy about that. If we can get our defence right then our attack will flow on from that."

Brothers will be missing up to six regular first graders, including five-eighth Shaun Nona, for tomorrow’s game, but Swain believes depth is one of his club’s greatest strengths.

"We’ll have a fair few out, but we’ll be looking to welcome them back over the next few weeks,’’' he said.

"But in saying that it may be hard for them to make it back in the team if we keep winning because it’ll be difficult to change a winning combination."

Kick-off is at 3pm.

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