A CATTLE farmer as tough as a tractor is seen as the man to steer the Central Coast Rays to the ARC grand final.

Country boy Ross Duncan has emerged as the unlikely pillar of the Rays' premiership campaign despite being dwarfed in public profile by the franchise's big names, Sam Norton-Knight, Ben Jacobs, Peter Hewat, Beau Robinson and Brett Sheehan.

The Rays host Perth this afternoon at Bluetongue Stadium (3pm kick-off) for a spot in the decider of the tournament's inaugural season.

To understand why Duncan - a passionate conservationist who plans to finish an environmental science degree next year - is seen as the bee's knees by coach John McKee, go back to a moment in play during the Rays' match against Ballymore on September 9. With the game in the balance, the flanker was knocked out making a big tackle, but rose up after a few seconds, dismissed the team doctor, and stumbled to get to the following line-out.

He then involved himself in the ensuing breakdowns, picked up the ball and scored the decisive try. "That passage of play sums up the player he is," McKee said. "That was a critical part of the game, and a critical part of the season for us. He puts his body on the line."

Duncan "remembers bits" of that play, mostly because he has seen replays on video.

The Dubbo product, whom McKee believes is good enough to play Super 14 next year, has come far since taking a chance playing for Warringah in this year's Shute Shield. He would drive six hours from Dubbo to Sydney for Thursday night training, stay until the Saturday game, and then drive back home to help his father with the cattle farm the rest of the week.

He has spent all his time during the ARC competition in Sydney and is now living with teammate Sheehan in the Northern Beaches. "I am really enjoying the footy and living in Sydney," said Duncan, 26. "I really would love to be playing in a Super 14 team next year, but I'm not saying that I'd fall short of any goals if I didn't."

McKee has urged the Waratahs to look closely at Duncan, but NSW have a heavily stocked back row of internationals in Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu. "He can the read the play, he is intelligent. He doesn't run around like a headless chook," McKee said. "Hopefully, there will be a few players from this competition who will progress. He is the sort of guy I believe could step up to Super 14."

In the second semi-final, tomorrow afternoon (4pm) at Parramatta Stadium, the young stars of the Western Sydney Rams' back line can expect heavy attention from Melbourne.

"With the young guys, if you give them a lot of room they will punish you," said Rebels coach Bill Millard, who is backing his veterans David Croft and Matt Cockbain to destabilise the opposition with their experience.

"We have got to go after them, that is where the focus has been this week. You can't go into it wanting to take Kurtley [Beale] and Lachie [Turner] out of it because they are too dangerous all over the park, but we have to be really aggressive and limit their opportunities."

The minor premiers have suffered a series of injuries to key players, including tight-five pair Tatafu Polota-Nau and Van Humphries, but Rams coach Brian Melrose said there would be no excuses for a loss.