MOREE moved to "plan F" ahead of today's Central North rugby union top of the table clash with the Narrabri Blue Boars at Narrabri's Dangar Park.
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The match, a replay of the 2002 grand final, is always a highlight of any season but the Bulls will have to adapt to a number of team changes after coach Peter Winkley's plans crumbled all around him at training on Thursday night.
Winkley knew captain Phil Barwick and centre Jason Young were already out with injury while winger Todd Brown has other commitments.
Then came Thursday night's crash.
"I brought up Tim Richards to the side but he's pulled a groin muscle tonight," Winkley said on Thursday evening.
"Then I grabbed Darky (Michael Slack-Smith) from second grade and he did his hamstring again. So we've gone to plan F.
"We had Jeremy Matthews at training and we've told him to bring his boots and mouthguard," Winkley joked.
"I'll be telling our fit players not to walk under ladders and to stay away from black cats."
Plan F involves bringing giant NSW Country Under 20 centre Kohl Weir up to first grade.
"He casts a fair shadow," Winkley said of Weir.
"He'll probably be outside centre."
Despite the backline reshuffles – Matt Moore has also come up to play on the wing – Winkley said his players would be up for Narrabri.
"Apart from the grand final the most enjoyable match for us is beating Narrabri in Narrabri."
The Bulls will try to overpower Narrabri in the tight five with Brendan Adler, Peter Dorney, Josh Connell, Matt Black and Mark Cotter a settled combination.
While Moree's tight five is intact, the Blue Boars have been forced to make a few changes.
Coach Bob Ford was disappointed Drew Chappel did not recover from injury in time to take his place in the tight five.
Regular flanker Silas Burke joins Dan Haverhoek in the second-row while Luke Chappel moves up to prop to cover for the suspended Craig Summers.
Ford said Chappel would do the job.
"The beauty of Luke is that he is a real big fella, around 125 kilos. He's very solid in terms of size.
"He's just got to keep low in the scrum and Woodsy (hooker Steve Wood) has got to take charge there. He's just got to lead him through it.
"I don't see the Moree front-row as being over- daunting. I see them as being a good three but not the greatest three that they've ever put on the paddock. If we can win our fair share of ball then we'll go all right."
