GLEN Innes Magpies will be without regular halfback Damian Doust for today's important home clash with Inverell Hawks.
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Magpie coach Barry Grob was considering two options for the important No. 7 spot in the battle of the birds.
He was looking at moving Arthur Latham in from five- eighth to half with Al Weatherall to play five-eighth. Or, if Brendan Doust (Damian's twin brother) is available, he might play halfback.
Latham's experience and guile won't let down the Magpies if he pulls on the No. 7. He has been in good form of late.
Although losing a metre or two of pace, he is still a valuable part of the Magpies' machine.
Winger Scott Parish is also unavailable match and will be replaced by speedster Steve Gadd on the flank.
"Our forward pack will be unchanged, which is a good thing," Grob said this week.
He has been impressed by the efforts of his forwards all
season.
The likes of Brad Monkerud, Shad Bailey, Matty Frendon and Ben Creighton have been in dynamic form and there are few better low tacklers around than lock Darren "Bones" Taylor and hooker Mike Goard.
The centre pairing of Brad Johnson and BJ Stewart is dependable and scoring plenty of tries between them while young fullback Mark Muggleton is in great touch.
In the previous clash this season, Inverell came from behind to grab a 28-all draw at home on Varley Oval and they will be confident of a good showing after lowering the boom on the previously unbeaten Warialda Wombats last weekend.
While the Magpies and Hawks stage their feathery fracas, Tingha is also at home to Narwan Eels today.
Tomorrow, Guyra plays Warialda at Guyra Showground while Armidale's second grade and juniors have a home game against YCW.