BOGGABRI Kangaroos, Kootingal Roosters, Dungowan Cowboys and Narrabri Blues are caught in a four-way hustle for semi-final contention already.
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They all sit on four competition points.
Three of those sides, Boggabri, Kootingal and Dungowan are playing away this weekend, Boggabri at Gunnedah Saturday night, Kootingal at Narrabri on Sunday and Dungowan away to Werris Creek on Sunday as well.
The quartet of sides are all on four points, only separated by for and against, Narrabri on top followed by Dungowan, Kootingal and Boggabri.
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The Boggabri Kangaroos are bottom of the table with a minus 108 for and against but coach Shane Rampling is confident they will give third-placed Gunendah (6pts).
"If we play like we did in the second half against Dungowan we will be hard to beat," Shane Rampling said.
"Gunnedah have some good players and I think it will be a good game with a big crowd (6.30pm kickoff).
"Both teams will be desperate to win."
Gunnedah coach John Hickey said the Roos forward pack is a strong unit.
"They do have a good forward pack and have some solid backs,"John Hickey said.
His side will be another mish mash of players available in what has been a topsy turvy season so far.
Second-placed Werris Creek have been much more settled and that has shown on the paddock as well as the ladder.
They sit in second with eight points but host a Dungowan side hungry for a win after a last start loss to Boggabri.
"We would never take them lightly," Magpies co-coach Ron Dellar said.
"They have a good side. Fergo (Shaun Ferguson) is back they say. He will make a big difference for them.
Werris cReek will be missing their own standout prop, Thomas Browne.
"He's still out for another week or so," Ron Dellar said.
"We're resting him. He's back at work but his neck is still sore.
"There is no need to rush him back until he's right with Dwight Millgate and co-captain Cody Tickle to play in the eight and 10 with Callum Hayne at hooker.
Ron Dellar said Dungowan are also likely to have Doug Biffin and rates the former North Tamworth and Pirates rugby star as a threat along with a "mystery"prop.
WERRIS CREEK v DUNGOWAN
Sunday - David Taylor Park, Werris Creek.
WERRIS CREEK: 1 Marty Shaw, 2 Nathaniel Slater, 3 Isaah Millgate, 4 Kieran Williams, 5 Miles Kearney, 6 Harlee Millgate, 7 Scott Berry, 8 Dwight Millgate, 9 Callum Hayne, 10 Cody Tickle (capt), 11 Sam Lumby, 12 Zac Leonard, 13 Jamie Bailey, 14 Beau Parry, 15 Marcus Doran, 16 Bryce Daniels, 17 Kaleb Parsons. Coaches - Ron Dellar, Matt Parsons.
DUNGOWAN: Unavailable.
NARRABRI v KOOTINGAL
Sunday - Collins Park, Narrabri.
NARRABRI: Unavailable.
KOOTINGAL: 1 Anthony Smith, 2 Nic Zahra, 3 Jack Rumsby, 4 Jesse Campbell, 5 Jack Anderson, 6 Ben Williams, 7 Jordan Sharpe (capt), 8 Chris Vidler, 9 Zach Hatch, 10 Kyle Cochrane, 11 Logan Howard, 12 Liam Hatch, 13 Jake McLoughlan, 14 Ryley Taylor, 15 Cameron McDonald. Coach - Geoff Sharpe.
GUNNEDAH v BOGGABRI
Saturday 6.30pm - Kitchener Park, Gunnedah.
GUNNEDAH: Unavailable.
BOGGABRI: 1 Jack Gillham, 2 Nic Hobden, 3 Jesse McCarthy, 4 Brock Sankey, 5 Tony Griffiths, 6 Dylan O'Brien, 7 Jayde Campbell, 8 Nick Millar, 9 Matt Gillham, 10 Ben Haire, 11 Bailey Lennox, 12 Mitch Campbell, 13 Kahn Juhnke, 14 Steve Taylor, 15 Nathan Millar, 16 Andrew Cameron, 17 Matt Avendano, 18 Jay Urquhart, 19 Hawken Durrant, 20 Jarrod Adams, 21 Jason Fenn. Coach - Shane Rampling.