The Blues host West Lions at Collins Park for a game that has major ramifications for both clubs.

West Lions are currently second and slowly starting to return to full strength.

The Blues, who beat the Lions last time the two sides met, are fourth and can finish third if they can start winning successive matches that would enable them to host a home minor-semi.

Two weeks ago they beat Gunnedah at Gunnedah to win the Dallas Donnelly Shield, but then disappointed when demolished 80-4 by a rampant North Tamworth Bears at Jack Woolaston Oval, last Sunday.

"We never set a platform," Blues captain coach Lachlan Cameron said after that horrendous loss. "But it was like when I was playing with Manly (Sydney rugby competition) we were in on the charge to the finals but got beaten 75-5 by Eastwood.

"They smoked us but the coach got up and said. Hey no one got killed today."

They promptly went out and had a beer and forgot the drubbing.

That's exactly what the Blues had to do, Cameron said.

Treat it as an aberration and move on quickly as he does have a good young side.

Jake Rumsby's rib injury was a loss in the second half too while the likes of hooker Jacob Nicholls and secondrower Sam Sadler tried hard but nothing went their way.

Little halfback, Kialu Brown was inventive but he too had no luck.

He made a number of incursions with his brilliant acceleration but a couple of passes failed to hit their mark and the promise in the first half was washed away in a red and black second half tide.

The Bears meanwhile continue their unbeaten season with a home game against Oxley Diggers on Sunday, and will be looking to pick up where they left off last week.

“I hope we take last week into this week and start on the front foot,” Bears coach Brad McManus said.

It's a big game for the Diggers who are battling away with Narrabri for the fourth semi-final berth and were well-beaten by Gunnedah, last round.

That is though of little consequence for the Bears.

“I'm not really worried about what they're doing,” McManus said.

“If we concentrate on what we're doing and what's been working for us, we'll be pretty right.” 

He has had to shuffle things around a bit with Jake McManus out for possibly up to six weeks. 

Luke Byrnes is also away with work. Ben Jarvis will take his spot while Brock Wadwell comes off the bench into hooker, Scott Blanch moves to five-eighth and Abel Carney to the centres.

TABLE: North Tamworth 21, West Lions 15, Gunnedah 14, Narrabri 10, Oxley Diggers 7, Armidale Rams 0.