By MARK CASHMAN

Eastwood coach Ben Batger says his team will have to stop leaking points if they are to be considered a leading team in the race for the 2020 Shute Shield competition.

The Woods conceded seven tries in their 43-41 win over Randwick at Coogee Oval last weekend and although happy overall with the result, Batger wants his side to change “pretty good”efforts to something better.

Batger hopes that starts against Northern Suburbs on Saturday in a game that will have a telling effect on the way that the competition ladder looks on Sunday morning.

“The feeling in the team is good, we have put in two pretty good performances in a row against good teams but we are looking to get rid of the word “pretty” and replace it with a good performance,” Batger mulled

“Norths will present us with a good challenge and play a very structured game of football.

“But they have lots of options on how they play off their structure so we will need be “on” for the full 80 minutes.

“The big focus for us this week has been defence because we are still leaking too many points – defence is about attitude and trust and we are looking to improve there and develop into a good defensive side.”

Norths continue their season on the road and they have been tagged as the Norths Nomads in all the club correspondence this week.

The unavailability of North Sydney No.1 Oval this year means that the Shoremen have played two of their home games at Bon Andrews Oval (the old No.2 Oval) and taken one game Camden.

The rest of Norths home games will be played at Pittwater Rugby Park, meaning that they will play four of the final five games on the northern beaches.

Norths coach Earl Va’a has doubts about the approach that Eastwood will bring to the game.

“They are going to attack us at set piece time,” Va’a said.

“So it’s up to us to nail our roles and make our tackles and see where that leaves us.

“They have a good scrum, an efficient line out, some big ball carriers in the middle of the field and  have size and strength out wide.

“It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

Norths No.10 Angus Sinclair managed the game against the Two Blues well and Va’a will be looking for more of the same against the Woods.

“He’s adding stuff to his game each week and importantly is showing some real leadership to the boys out on the field,” Va’a said.

No.8 George Murrin passed a fitness test on Thursday night and will start meaning that Pat Tafa will come off the bench.

Cam Clark, who played 80 minutes against the Two Blues in Camden, has been pulled back into the Waratahs bubble and will not feature.

The versatile Connor Winchester gets his chance on the wing with Kepu Lokotui dropping back to the bench.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):

German Haeffeli, Gary Bautz, Dewald Dekker, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, George Murrin, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Connor Winchester, Max Burey.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Willie Leoso, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Tim Anstee, Charles Granger, Sione Tau, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Tim Simona, Enoka Muliufi, Devan Stoltz, Fabian Goodall, Chris Bell.

LAST TIME: Northern Suburbs W 44-14, April 19, 2019

IMAGE: SERGE GONZALEZ /EASTWOOD RUGBY