If you’re thinking a first-versus-seventh Blowes Clothing Cup clash between Orange Emus and Dubbo Rhinos will be a tedious one, you might want to think again.
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Despite maintaining their unbeaten record over the weekend, Emus are dealing with several injuries which will see five of their regular starters sidelined on Saturday.
Emus have been hit the hardest in the backline as Lachie Harris and Carter Hirini – both centres - and bustling winger Levi Russell will be absent, paving the way for some fresh faces.
Although the greens’ XV won’t be named until Friday morning Simon Thompson, Mitch Evers and Jake Roberts are the most likely to come into the side.
With Emus’ versatility in the backs, where they’ll play is the question.
Considering Emus travel to Forbes next week for a top-of-the-table clash, also a 2016 grand final rematch, many would assume Saturday’s round 10 clash with the cellar-dwelling Rhinos would be the ideal opportunity to rest some players anyway.
Not so, if you ask Emus skipper Nigel Staniforth.
He’s not expecting Saturday’s game to be an easy one and is preparing for a competitive clash.
“You never take your opponent lightly. That’s not a good place to be in,” Staniforth said.
Emus met the Rhinos earlier in the season and despite winning convincingly, Staniforth highlighted some of the things Dubbo did well.
“They rushed their defence up quickly and they hit hard,” he said.
“We’re expecting their attack to be better this time around too.”
Another factor that may trouble the Emus this weekend is the brutal match they’re recovering from against the third-placed Bathurst Bulldogs.
The greens toppled the Bulldogs 29-15 last Saturday and high-intensity games like that often take a huge toll physically.
That’s proven by the fact Emus are without hooker Tom Goolagong and prop Al Hattersley too, adding to the loss of their three outside men.
Despite a double-digit win against the Bulldogs, Staniforth isn't getting carried away with his side’s performance and noticed several areas to improve.
“Our attack was a bit limited. We were a bit rusty in the backs and didn’t move the ball too well,” he said.
“Our exits from our half were poor too.”
Orange Emus welcome Dubbo Rhinos to Endeavour Oval this Saturday for a 3.15pm kick-off.