Greater Northern Tigers regional manager Scott Bone said weather forecasts have today’s rain clearing and a dry Carrington Park for the Tigers to play on in Bathurst despite cool temperatures.

“The forecast is for the rain to clear but it will be cold,” Bone said.

“Supposed to be normal Bathurst weather, minus one to nine degrees!”

Greater Northern skipper Daniel Ritter led the Tigers to a first round win over the Rams in Scone last year and knows just what a big threat they pose with their size.

The reunion is an added threat too, he said.

“It’s a big day down there for them,” the Scone and Tiger lock told The Leader.

“They have a Western Division reunion. Every player that has played for them has been invited. So it will be a big day for them and they will be pumped for it.”

He and his Tigers have trained well and are prepared for the big Rams pack with a solid unit of their own including the addition of Gunnedah captain-coach Trent Hilton, West Lions’ Chris Vidler and North Tamworth’s Shane-Leigh Wadwell bolstering and boosting the size of the side.

They face a Rams side which could be sparked by Bathurst hooker Benjamin John.

He could have a picnic off the back of some damaging runs and quick play-the-balls from the big Western Rams forwards, reported Sam Debenham.

Blayney wrecking ball Terawhiti Cooper should add plenty of venom too.

“We wanted to go with a lot of size, we didn’t really make a secret of that and on the bench we’ve got three big guys plus ‘Morts’ who has been outstanding for Orange CYMS this season,” Western coach Mick Sullivan said.

“I want all the players to show a real willingness to do the hard work. I think this squad can go deep into this competition and that’s what it was picked on, not just with an eye to winning this one game.

“I don’t know a lot about the opposition. I should know more than I do. Demetrius has played up that way a little bit and he says that they are a grinding sort of a side so we can expect a tough, physical match.”