The talented side plays fellow Division 1 sides Grafton Vikings, Bellinger Valley Braves, Port Macquarie and Lismore on a busy weekend, said assistant coach Greg Irwin.

Irwin was running the side Tuesday afternoon in the absence of coach Nick Prior, who was busy “moving”.

“The girls have been going well and are undefeated,” Irwin said.

“Normally their big rivals are Coffs Harbour but they don’t have an 18 side. And the other sides all play zone defences.

“So the big challenge is to change from our man-on-man game to counter the zone. That’s the challenge this

weekend.”

This weekend’s round of matches is the final round before the NJL playoffs.

The Thunderbolts go into the match without star guard Aimee Diebold.

She is “wrestling” with some entertainment commitments in Sydney.

The Thunderbolts have also benefited from the presence of Inverell pair Georgia Strang (sister of outstanding motorbike rider Josh Strang) and Caitlin Bierling.

Irwin has also travelled from Inverell for the weekly training sessions and while he has clocked up many kilometres is delighted to be a part of the Thunderbolt season.

Eight Thunderbolt junior teams are headed to Coffs Harbour for final round NJL games on the weekend.

The Under 18 men and women are both undefeated. The Under 16 men and women, two Under 14 men as well as the Under 14 and 12 women’s sides are all playing.

THUNDERBOLT 18 WOMEN; Aimee Diebold, Bridget Long, Mikala Dickie, Kandelka Knox, Mel Smith, Natalie Graham, Anna Ralston, Carly Callaghan, Caitlin Bierling, Georgia Strang. Coach Nick Prior, assistant coach – Greg Irwin.