GROUP 4 coach Lee Stanford is tipping his side to regain the Jim Sharpe Cup at today's Northern Division Championships in Tamworth.

While he knows Group 21 and Group 19 pose serious threats he believes he has the right blend of players and attitudes to reassert Group 4 superiority at Scully Park.

He has also watched and worked with the side in two strong training sessions.

"They've surprised me with their attitude," Stanford said this week.

"We've got a good blend of youth and experience but the thing is they all want to be there.

"They have been a dream to coach.

"Last week they went a full session of ball work without dropping the ball until the very last set of six.

"We're going to go pretty well as long as they don't drop the ball and complete their sets of six."

Stanford said the lack of match practice might be the most telling factor on his side.

Especially in what looms as hot conditions.

He's also tipping a few players to catch the eye of selectors.

Hooker Aaron Mitchell is one, who he thinks can step out of the shadow of former North Tamworth and Scone hooker John Johnson.

Johnson had a metoeric season last year, catapulting him to NSW Country and NSW Residents selections. He is playing with Port Kembla this season.

"I rate Mitchell not far behind

Johnno and think he'll have a big day," he said.

And we have a very mobile pack. Our frontrowers can play in the backrow and the backrowers can play in the centres.

So if Group 21 or Group 19 want to play us up the middle we can

take it wide if want to and run them around."

He also compares the centre pairing of Graham Smallwood (Wee Waa) and Luke Taylor (North) to that of the outstanding Country centres Matty Hogan and Tom Wilson.

"Graham and Luke are two of the best I've seen, Matty and Tom were a great centre pairing but these two can be just as good.

"It could be very interesting against the Group 21 pair."

Scone captain-coach Dean Taylor and Muswellbrook's Daniel Forder are also outstanding.

Both are former Northern Division representatives with Forder helping Cessnock to a Newcastle premiership last year but back with the Rams.

Taylor is captain-coach of Scone and in great early season form.