Both are yet to drop a game, with Gwydir accounting for Glen Innes, Gunnedah and Quirindi, and Armidale defeating Gunnedah and Quirindi before having the bye last round.

They have made just one change to the side that beat Quirindi with Kyle Taylor coming in for Nick Farrar, who is away on holidays.

“He’s (Taylor) scored a couple of 50s in the last couple of weeks,” captain Pete Collins said.

Collins views Gwydir as being their biggest obstacle.

That said the most of their games so far have been at home, and on the cement, where they are accustomed to playing. The turf, he said, will present a different proposition and he is backing his side, if they can execute the basics well, to get the result.

“If we can put 200 on the board I think our bowlers can restrict Gwydir,” Collins said.

“Our bowlers are in pretty good form with the ball.”

He and Nick Levy both claimed four wickets their last game as they rolled Quirindi for 115.

Levy has also been scoring runs for Barbarians in the last couple of weeks, and will bring some hitting power to support a top order that has been performing well.

Albeit not quite as well as it could, Collins pinpointing converting their starts with the bat as the biggest area they need to improve on.

“Those guys that are getting 20 and 30 need to get 50,” he said.

Moree host Quirndi while Gunnedah is at home to Tamworth Blue in the other games.

The Blues sit just ahead of Armidale on run-rate but have been forced to make a few changes from the side that thumped Glen Innes in the last round with skipper Chris Paterson and son Jye both overseas.

Lachlan Davidson and Cooper Barnes are also both away on a school excursion.

Tim Unwin will step in to lead the side in Paterson’s absence and said it is still a strong side.

“It’s a really exciting young side,” he said.

The likes of Jack Richards and Tom Fitzgerald have been performing well when they’ve had their opportunities in the 1^st XI. Toby Whale and Lachie Fauchon also impressed with the bat against Glen Innes.

Brad Redshaw comes in as one of the changes and will take the new ball with Tait Jordan, who claimed five wickets against Glen.

Josh Dawson will be third seam option with the attack heavily slanted towards spin. Unwin counted five spinners in the side – himself, Dan Collinson, Richards, Dave Brannan and Lachie Cooke.

Gunnedah posted their first win for the competition last round and will be handy, he said.

“We have to get runs on the board. That will be the big thing,” he said.

The weeks wet weather has meanwhile resulted in the cancellation of Friday night’s final round of the Twenty20 competition. All turf wickets are also out for this weekend washing out Tamworth first and second grade. Third and fourth grade will go ahead while Sunday’s junior rep fixtures have been transferred to synthetic.