By MARK CASHMAN

Northern Suburbs backrower Gary Bautz has something of a cult following in and around North Sydney Oval.

I’m constantly asked by rugby friend and foe why the likeable and well-muscled backrower and sometimes hooker cannot command a regular spot in the Shoremen’s top team.

Highlanders premiership coach Darren Coleman even asked, very much tongue in cheek, why Norths hadn’t got him a gym membership because “he needed to work on his rig” after he played a crucial role coming on late against Gordon in their only loss of the 2020 season.

Well Bautz, who came to Norths at the start of the 2017 season, gets his chance when Norths take on Eastwood in what will be one of the better Round Six games on Saturday.

He gets his chance to start after regular No.8 Brodie Leber was forced from the field in the game against West Harbour last weekend with a hamstring issue.

That was more serious than many thought at the ground and Leber had surgery earlier this week and it’s more than likely that he will miss the vast majority of this season.

Norths coach Zak Beer has been using him off the bench this season and Bautz has been using those minutes at the back end of games to state his case.

“Yeah we’ve been using him strategically late in games and it’s really been working for us,” Beer told Rugby News.

“He’s very good over the ball and even though he has come on late he has figured in our man of the match voting first against Souths and then he topped the count against West Harbour.

“His chance has come via an injury but I am sure he will go out there and rip in right from the start.”

Good news for Norths though is the availability of winger James Turner who has been released by the Waratahs after picking up an injury cover contract for the Trans Tasman section of Super Rugby.

Connor Winchester will drop back to the bench but is sure to play some sort of role on Saturday.

Not so fortunate with lock Jack Whetton but Rugby News understands that Tane Edmed is available and will play at some stage on Saturday.

Woods coach Ben Batger wasn’t keen to reveal what his plans are for his red head No.10 against Norths suffice to say it will be significant.

Batger was more open about the significance of this fixture in light of the fact that the last one went to extra time in the wet at Rat Park.

There were some real head scratching moments in their 40-37 loss to Warringah – suffice to say it was not the sort of performance that you would expected from this side.

“Norths are one of the top sides and forms sides of 2021 and will be very difficult on Saturday,” Batger said.

“But  it’s a great test for the team’s character as we need to bounce back after a disappointing game against Warringah. 

“They are one of the more dangerous attacking teams in the competition and use a lot of ball movement so we need to switch on defensively which is something we have struggled to do this year. 

“If our defence can hold I’m confident attack will look after itself.”

IMAGE: NORTHS RUGBY