Sovereigntists are like the Montreal Canadiens, said Pauline Marois at a Parti Quebecois convention this weekend; underdogs who believe in themselves.

In her closing address at a weekend-long conference in Drummondville, the PQ leader compared the party's attempt at taking on the Charest Liberals to the Habs' fight for the Stanley Cup.

"The whole nation is vibrating in tune with a team of players who were called too small, not talented enough, not proud enough to win," Marois said.

So she said job number one is to get rid of the Liberal government.

"We are ready to take the place if this government (is rejected) in election," she said.

Marois told the 600 delegates in Drummondville that Quebecers are beginning to think they can't win the fight for sovereignty -- but that's what people said about the Canadiens before the playoffs.

"Solidarity is always strongest when you strive for victory, and the PQ can win," she told them.