The two sides are battling it out for second spot with only Uralla ahead of them and, after the Cowboys rode home with the points in round one, the Magpies will be looking to swoop.

Other Shield matches will see Uralla host Wee Waa and Boggabri host Bundarra.

The Plate will see a new-look Barraba side test their mettle when they head up the mountain to what will be a cold Captain Cook Park in Walcha, while Quirindi will be looking to keep their climb up the ladder continuing as they head to Bingara to meet the Bullets.

Last Saturday the Grasshoppers surprised Manilla, coming home with a wet sail at home to turn a two-point half-time lead into a 56-24 win over the previously unbeaten side.

The Grasshoppers have undergone some major changes this season, including a much-improved roster led by last season’s Group 4 Player of the Year Chris Vidler, who braved a return to the Second Division this season.

The former Lions prop attempted the same thing with Manilla in 2014, although a troubled and winless season soon saw him back in the top division before the move to Quirindi this year.

That history made this win over Manilla all the more sweeter for their barnstorming prop.

“They beat Walcha and were on top of the table and we dominated them,” Vidler said.

“It was a good confidence boost to beat Manilla like that but it is good to beat any team.” 

Vidler has put the early success this season down to team culture and a good attitude at training after employing the no-train no-play rule.

“The boys want to show up and have really been putting the effort in,” Vidler said.

“They have been busting themselves at training since January.

“When you can control training you can control the game.” 

That is just what the home side did, scoring the first three tries of the first half before blowing Manilla away in the second.

“Our completions were really good and we were running our sets,” Vidler said.

“We were a bit sluggish before half-time but turned it around.” 

“Qurindi have lacked confidence over the last few years but they have it now.” 

“The Plate has been really good for us and the players look forward to playing every week.” 

The Grasshoppers are sitting in third, only one point behind Manilla and two points behind Walcha but, with only two home games left for the season, are looking to carry this form forward and pick up more points on the road, beginning with Bingara on Saturday.

While the club is looking good on the field this season, treasurer and co-coach Ben Allan said they are still facing an uphill battle off the field and has put a call out to anyone who can help with the running of the club.

“We are struggling with a committee of only five people and some sponsorship as well,” Allan said.

“The Pub in Tamworth has sponsored us but we would like some more local sponsors to go with our good supporter numbers this season.

“Hopefully a few wins like this can help us in both.”