Eastern Suburbs will look to replicate their near perfect round one performance when they face Sydney Uni on Saturday for the second time this season. 

The Beasties were talked up as the team to beat over summer and lived up to the hype on opening weekend, scoring six tries in an impressive 49-28 win over the defending premiers. 

But according to coach Pauli Taumoepeau, no one at Woollahra has mentioned the bonus point win. 

“It’s got no bearing on tomorrow. They’re a different side and we’re on a different buzz,” Taumoepeau said. 

“If anything, it probably gives them motivation to turn up and return the favour, it doesn’t do anything for us.”

The Beasties are sixth following a win over Manly and a bye in round 14 and face a difficult final month of the regular season. 

Following Saturday’s clash against Uni, Easts play Randwick, Gordon and Eastwood in the final rounds and will likely need to win three of those four matches to secure a spot in the playoffs. 

“It’s always hard to know if the bye comes at a good time or breaks momentum,” Taumeopeau said. 

“We stayed together and trained without the pressure of a game on the weekend and it was nice to focus on core skills for the week.”

Scrumhalf Jack Grant and Flyhalf Mack Mason both haven’t been named to play, with Angus Fowler and Archie King to partner in the halves, while Dan Donato will play fullback against the Students.

“Uni will play with high energy and lots of physicality. Their forward pack will be very physical and their back will be fast and energised in attack.”

The Students bounced back from a disappointing loss to Warringah in round 14 and claimed a comfortable bonus point win over Western Sydney last week to keep their minor premiership hopes alive. 

Coach Rob Taylor said his side hasn’t forgotten their disappointing performance against Easts in round one and have been looking forward to getting another shot at their eastern neighbours. 

“Physicality and the breakdown will be the key, we know Easts will be coming in from all angles to slow it down,” Taylor said. 

After missing selection in the Wallabies squad, Jake Gordon will start alongside Stu Dunbar in the halves in an incredibly impressive Uni starting XV.

“We’ve also got Nick Phipps back. Both of them bring a lot of experience and have great speed of thought and core skills that put the opposition under pressure.”

Eastern Suburbs (1-15)

Callum King, Lindsey Stevens, Archie Hall, Ryan McCauley, BJ Edwards/Jack Turley, William Harris, Rowan Perry, Tim Buchanan, Angus Fowler, Archie King, Henry Paterson, Ned Yeomans, Sam Fogarty, William Paterson, Daniel Donato.

Sydney University (1-15)

Matt Sandell, Tom Horton, Harry Johnson Holmes, Lachie Swinton, Matt Phillip, Nicholas Champion de Crispigny, Josh Kemeny, Rohan O’Reagan, Jake Gordon, Stu Dunbar, James Kane, Guy Porter, James Armstrong, Harry Potter, Tim Clements.