SCONE Thoroughbreds are favourites but the Muswellbrook Rams are ready to spoil their Aplus Contracting Group 21 major semi final at Scone Park on Saturday.
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Both coaches have named full strength sides with only Rams skipper Liam Dunn causing some concern with a groin strain.
Co-coaches Gary Jones and Steve Haylen are confident the "big fella" can take his place at lock and play a leading role in any upset against a side they are yet to beat in three meetings so far this season.
"Liam is our only injury concern," Gary Jones told The Leader this week.
"Everyone else is fit and healthy. We are well aware too that we have a massive test in front of us. We haven't beaten them all season and they've only been beaten the once. We've been able to match it with them at times in all three games but we have to play for the full 80 minutes because they are strong all over the park. Having Tim Smith back is a big plus for them. He has genuine pace, you cannot drop your guard at any time with him around. He can score long range tries."
Scone captain-coach Daniel Ritter agreed.
He has named the former Country fullback on the wing after he returned to the paddock via second grade around a month ago after overcoming a knee operation.
"It's been good to have Timmie back," Daniel Ritter told The Leader.
"But this is going to be a team effort. Our two props (Wes Suckley and James Barker) have been outstanding all season and led us forward.
"They give us that go forward but everyone has to produce a big effort. Muswellbrook are a young side and we've had some good tussles with them all year. It's going to be tough again on Sunday. They have good players all over the park too."
Sunday's Group 21 major semis start at 10am with the Ladies League Tag major semi between Scone and Greta Branxton.
Then follows a Muswellbrook/Singleton Under 18 major semi with Singleton and Scone matching up in the second grade major semi from 12.40pm.
The first grade major semi is timed to kick off at 2.15pm with the loser of Sunday's first grade major semi to host this Sunday's preliminary final against an Aberdeen side that is close to full strength for the first time this season.
SCONE THOROUGHBREDS: 1 Hayden Topliss, 2 Lachlan Walmsley, 3 James Carrascalao, 4 Josh Adams, 5 Tim Smith, 6 Josh Watson, 7 Gary McKeon, 8 Wes Suckley, 9 Jarrod Wicks, 10 James Barker, 11 Tim Watson, 12 James Eveleigh, 13 Daniel Ritter (c/c), 15 John Johnson, 16 Isaac Austin, 17 Tom Hagan, 18 Jake Bailey.
MUSWELLBROOK RAMS; 1 Elliott Serhan, 2 Jackson Anshaw, 3 Jacob Elllis, 4 Zac Webb, 5 Lenny Craft, 6 Marcus Bower, 7 Cade Boney, 8 Rohan Pottinger, 9 Adam Grech, 10 Jeff Saarikko, 11 Clinton Blenman, 12 Ryan Holman, 13 Liam Dunn, 14 Jacobe Dowell, 15 Andrew Pritchard, 16 Adam Hume, 17 Brady Benkovic. Co-coaches: Gary Jones and Steve Haylen.
GROUP 21 MAJOR SEMI FINALS Scone Park - Sunday: FIRST GRADE: Scone v Muswellbrook (2.15pm kickoff). SECOND GRADE: Singleton v Scone (12.40pm kickoff). UNDER 18: Muswellbrook v Singleton (11.15am kickoff). LADIES LEAGUE TAG: Scone v Greta Branxton (10am kickoff).