With the Super 14 finishing for a number of teams last weekend, this weekend sees a few Brumbies enter the Tooheys New Shute Shield making for some interesting line-ups.

The ABC TV Match of the Day is at Woollahra Oval where Easts host Parramatta, while the battle for second will be on in earnest with West Harbour travelling to Chatswood Oval to play Gordon.

EASTERN SUBURBS (6th) V PARRAMATTA (8th) AT WOOLLAHRA OVAL (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)

Easts have dropped four of their last five matches and their task doesn’t get any easier when they host Parramatta at Woollahra Oval.

The Two Blues have been one of the form sides of the last month, picking up three wins and a draw from their last five matches to rise to within one point of the top six.

Coming off a big win last weekend over Northern Suburbs, Parramatta will be confident however the Beasts will put in a strong performance at home.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Mike Ross, 2. Sam Zlatevski, 3. Aaron Tawera; 4. Matt McGann, 5. Hamish Irving; 6. Ed Brenac, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Tom Egan [c]; 9. Vitori Buatava, 10. James McSeveny; 11. John Collignon, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Lloyd Jones, 14. Pat Smith; 15. Gavin Debartolo.
Parramatta: 1. Kris Zvirbulis, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Matt Toli; 4. Andrew Brown [c], 5. Andrew Cox; 6. Ropati Matangi, 7. Winney Paulo, 8. Junior To’o; 9. Luke Tabatoa, 10. Josh Weeks; 11. Brian Sefanaia, 12. Dave Alo, 13. Paula Kaveinga, 14. Tito Mua; 15. Ben Borg.
Referee: James Scholtens

GORDON (3rd) V WEST HARBOUR (2nd) at Chatswood Oval  (3:00pm)

Gordon have the opportunity to leapfrog West Harbour and retake second place on the table if they can overcome the Pirates at Chatswood Oval.

Since going down to competition leaders Sydney University, the Highlanders have scored 91 points in two weeks which is exactly the sort of tryscoring form they will need to be in the game against one of the competition’s top pointscoring sides.

West Harbour have scored an average of 38 points per match in the past month, however having already lost to first-placed Uni and fourth-placed Randwick, will be wanting victory against Gordon to prove they can match it with the leading teams.
Gordon: 1. Ofa Fainga’anuku, 2. Alex Gluth, 3. Martin Plokstys; 4. Siona Vea, 5. Kingsley Seale; 6. Ed Gower [c], 7. Craig Thomas, 8. Viliame Ratu; 9. Vinnie Byrne, 10. Dave Harvey; 11. Terry Preston, 12. Billy Rainima, 13. Darren Firmin, 14. Sisa Waqa; 15. Mark Preston.
West Harbour: 1. Michael Rigney, 2. Ben Roberts, 3. Luke Hunter; 4. Damian Lloyd, 5. Ben Lonsdale; 6. James King, 7. Mark Porpiglia, 8. Isaiah Pine; 9. Steve Massey, 10. Dave Paurini; 11. Nick Reily, 12. Lester Salanoa, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. John Sinisa; 15. Ben Martin [c].
Referee: Julian Pritchard

PENRITH (11th) V MANLY (10th) at Nepean Rugby Park (3:00pm)

Penrith’s and Manly’s positions on the table indicate this match should be close and it is definitely a clash that could go either way.

There are few tougher road trips in the Shute Shield than Manly travelling to Nepean Rugby Park, however they will need to hit back from their round eight loss and return to the winners’ circle.

Penrith on the other hand are on a high having recorded their first victory of the season last weekend to peel the Emus off the bottom of the ladder. They are however without their captain and inside centre Sia’a Taveuveu who has been a fantastic leader for Penrith this year, leading from the front every week.
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. Elvis Levi, 3. Nick Barber [c]; 4. Shannon Rushworth, 5. Liam Winton; 6. Shemaiah Evans, 7. Rob Carlson, 8. Luke Williams; 9. Brendan Craig, 10. Jono Rolfe; 11. Campbell Sione, 12. Patrick Mekuri, 13. Solomona Fainifo, 14. Brent Varga; 15. Nick Richardson.
Manly: 1. Reuben Bijl, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. James Lakepa; 4. Dylan Sigg, 5. Pat Maile; 6. Daniel Collins, 7. Will Brame, 8. Mark Fisher; 9. Chris Cottee [c], 10. Josh Gamgee; 11. Stephen Scoles, 12. Jarrod Murphy, 13. Luke Johnson, 14. Lupini Siale; 15. Matt Hopper.
Referee: Nathan Pearce

EASTWOOD (7th) V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (12th) at T.G. Millner Field (3:00pm)

This match-up looks to be a lopsided affair with an in-form Eastwood lineup taking on a Souths team left reeling after last round’s loss put them on the bottom of the table.

The Woodies go into the match fresh from a week off, with their clash with Sydney University deferred due to the Students playing in the Australian Club Championship in Brisbane.

James McCormack will skipper the Rebels with Michael Black’s place at fullback taken by the exciting Hiroyuki Sakamoto.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Todd Pearce, 3. Aaron Broughton-Rouse; 4. Marty Wilson, 5. Phil Mathers; 6. Seva Rokobaro, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Josh Dunning; 9. Dave Rimmer, 10. Barney Wood; 11. Filipo Toala, 12. Tim Corcoran, 13. Jesse Leota, 14. Mark Frost; 15. Ben Batger.
Southern Districts: 1. Micah Watene, 2. James McCormack [c], 3. Duncan Chubb; 4. Greg Thomas, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Israel Stephens, 7. Terry Autagavia, 8. Grant Trouville; 9. Rob Chrystie, 10. Michael Black [c]; 11. Dennis Pili, 12. Ben Tickle, 13. David Prince, 14. Jackson Mullane; 15. Hiroyuki Sakamoto.
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore

WARRINGAH (5th) V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (1st) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3:00pm)

Sydney University proved they were the best team in the country last weekend after taking out the Australian Club Championship in Brisbane, however they travel to the northern beaches with a tough task ahead of them if they are to keep their unbeaten 2008 record in tact.

Warringah remain in the top six despite last week’s thrashing at the hands of Randwick, but welcome back some real class from the Super 14 in Waratahs centre Sam Harris and Brumbies fullback Mark Gerrard.

University on the other hand are without Alfi Mafi whose season ended last week with a knee injury in Brisbane, however they welcome back Waratah prop Jeremy Tilse to the first grade starting XV.
Warringah: 1. Dan Raymond [c], 2. David Mason, 3. Pingi Talaapitaga; 4. Scott Flint, 5. Luke Hanvey; 6. Scott Flint, 7. Mitchell Greenway, 8. Andrew Rasmus; 9. Sam Hutcherson, 10. Michael Ruthven; 11. Pat McCabe, 12. Sam Harris, 13. Clint Eadie, 14. Ed Doyle; 15. Mark Gerrard.
Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Dan Lewinski, 3. Jeremy Tilse; 4. David McDuling, 5. Lachlan McCutcheon; 6. Pat McCutcheon, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Nick Haydon, 10. Dan Kelly; 11. Ed Jenkins, 12. Daniel Halangahu, 13. Leo Afeaki, 14. Lachlan Rosengreen; 15. Lachlan Mitchell.
Referee: Daniel Cheever

NORTHERN SUBURBS (9th) V RANDWICK (2nd) at North Sydney Oval (3:00pm)

After leading the competition after two rounds Norths have slipped to ninth and have it all to do if they are to overcome Randwick at North Sydney Oval.

Chris Thomson is back in the Norths team this week along with Brumbies prop Ben Alexander,  while Casey Dunning moves from prop to hooker.

Randwick take a slightly different look to the team which recorded the biggest win of the Shute Shield last weekend. Ratu Nasiganiyavi is unavailable due to the national under 20s camp, Waratah backrower Ben Mowen is out with an ankle injury, and Chris Houston is also out of action meaning popular hooker Nio Halangahu takes over captaincy duties.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Nick Lah, 2. Casey Dunning, 3. Ben Alexander; 4. Chris Thomson, 5. James Fitzgerald, 6. Simon Johnson, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. Will Hunt; 9. Steve Evans, 10. Chris Burnett; 11. Ryno Delport, 12. Codie Medway, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. James Lew, 15. Seamus Ross.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Atonio Halangahu [c], 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Steve Brennan, 5. Tim Maxwell; 6. Mat Whittleston, 7. Rodney Voullaire, 8. Ben Toleafoa; 9. Josh Valentine, 10. Toby Browne; 11. William Helu, 12. Dane Inman, 13. Metui Meile, 14. David Batiratu; 15. Bernie Orbell.
Referee: Ian Smith

PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD ROUND 9

HSBC Waratahs (5): Ben Batger (Eastwood), Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University), Sam Harris (Warringah), Sekope Kepu (Randwick), Josh Valentine (Randwick).
HSBC Junior Waratahs Professional (5): Dan Kelly (Sydney University), Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University), Andrew Smith (Northern Suburbs), Chris Thomson (Northern Suburbs), Laurie Weeks (Sydney University).

PLAYERS UNAVAILABLE FOR TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD ROUND 9

HSBC Waratahs (excluding match day squad): Dave Dennis (Sydney University, knee), Ben Jacobs (Warringah, knee), Alfi Mafi (Sydney University, knee), Ben Mowen (Randwick, ankle).
HSBC Junior Waratahs Professional: Adam Byrnes (Eastern Suburbs, knee), Ben Coridas (Eastwood, AUS U20 Camp), Dan Palmer (Southern Districts, AUS U20 Camp).

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