It is getting to crunch time for the Magpies, who boast just the one win and have dropped down to fourth, only their superior bonus points keeping them ahead of Barbarians.

Mainly through injury, coach Peter Burke has made a number of changes for the clash including shifting Darcy from the backrow, where he has been great for them, into the middle of the scrum alongside his brother (Jack).

"Cam Williams who's been playing in the second row for us, he's out. I just wanted to try and add a little bit more weight into the second row," Burke explained.

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Nick Wiseman also pushes back from hooker to openside breakaway with Colin Fogarty stepping up from second grade to wear the no.2.

The Magpies can ill-afford too many more losses as they battle with Robb and Baa Baas for the remaining two finals spots (Albies and Armidale look to have first and second locked up) and are preparing for a big challenge with the students having only dropped the one game since they pipped them by two points back in round 5.

"Robb are an unpredictable team," Burke said.

"[Last time] We didn't defend well in certain areas of the paddock expecting them to play a certain style and they didn't. But we're ready for that now".

That said they have been looking at, and worrying, more about themselves than the opposition.

The start will be one of the big focuses for the Magpies after a lacklustre first half last game against put them on the backfoot.

"We weren't switched on when we went onto the paddock," Burke said.

And Baa Baas took advantage.

Training on Thursday night has given him hope of them being more switched on. It was probably the best Thursday run they've had, he said.

After a disrupted last month or so, the players also know they have a bit more consistent football ahead of them and a few more home games.

In the other game on Saturday, Barbarians host Armidale.

To commemorate NAIDOC Week round, the Baa Baas first grade and women's sides will play in special jerseys, which the players have the option of purchasing. Any not purchased and spare jerseys will be auctioned off later that night with all proceeds from the purchased jerseys and auctioned ones being donated to the Armidale Christian Outreach Centre.

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