By Matt Findlay The 2018 NSW Country Championships will be played in Western Plains for the very first time this weekend. While Country Week traditionally serves up a few surprises, here are 11 names to keep an eye out for if you're making the trip west to Warren. 1 | MAX STAFFORD (Newcastle-Hunter - Halfback) The young Maitland No.9 replaces NSW Country scrum-half Jono O'Toole, no mean feat, but one Newcastle-Hunter coach Stu Pinkerton says he's up to, labelling Stafford "a good prospect" earlier this year. He steps up from Newcastle's colts side and has always featured heavily in the region's under-age outfits too. How he handles the lift in intensity, physicality and any pressure that brings will go a long way to Newcastle-Hunter defending its title, or not. 2 | MARK BALDWIN (Central West - Flanker) A former Randwick skipper and NSW Country Eagle, Baldwin has linked with Dubbo Kangaroos in Central West Rugby Union's Blowes Clothing Cup and adds a wealth of expe