By Tom Primmer; Photo: Brenden Hertel

GPS will be out to continue their undefeated start to 2021, while Easts are searching for their first win of the season when the two premiership heavyweights clash this weekend. 

The Gallopers have dominated Souths and Norths with strong scrummaging performances, and they’ll look to do the same against a Tigers side lacking their set-piece supremacy of 2020. 

Jack Straker, Maile Ngauamo and Fred Burke will start in the front row, going up against George Francis, Zac Crothers and SJ Tamala in what should be a mouth-watering scrum battle at Tigerland. 

Ollie Bartlett is out for Jeeps in the second row, making Reds lock Tuaina Taii Tualima all the more important for the side, while the Richards brothers – Mick and Nick – will start in the backrow. 

Fijian U20s scrumhalf Josh Vuta has impressed at scrumhalf thus far and will look to again use the platform laid by the Jeeps forward pack, as will speedster Josh Collins out wide. 

GPS head coach Shane Arnold said his side are ready for a physical battle against the reining premiers. 

“We need to match them physically,” Arnold said.

“They will be fired up for a win at home. We will also need to hold onto the ball in attack. 

“The scrum battle is always important and will be crucial this week against Easts’ quality scrum.”

The Tigers will be without stars Eli Pilz and Shane Kennedy, seeing Ben Littleton and Jack Frampton fill in at scrumhalf and fullback respectively. 

Logan Tibbetts will fill Frampton’s shoes at flyhalf, while Alex Smit has returned to start in the backrow with Liam Wright and Seru Uru back on Queensland Reds duty. 

Crothers will start his first game of the season up front as the winless Tigers look to rediscover the spark that delivered them the title last year.