By Matt Findlay

Eastern Suburbs’ annual Beach to Bush Round in Orange is an event James Donato circles in the calendar every year, but this weekend’s trip west is slightly more momentous for the burly back-rower.

Although it’s Easts’ fourth trip to Orange, Saturday’s round five showdown with Western Sydney at Wade Park will be the 23-year-old’s first Shute Shield appearance in his hometown. 

The Orange City Lions junior has primarily plied his trade in the Beasties’ lower grades in recent years, along with earning sporadic top flight starts and making regular appearances off the bench.

But with runs on the board, performance wise, and a huge pre-season under his belt Donato started the season on the side of the Beasties’ scrum, where he’s stayed.

“I was stoked when (Easts coach) Pauli (Taumoepeau) let me know I was in the top side and that I’d be playing seven, I always grew up playing there so it’s nice to get a crack in that position,” Donato said, having largely played six recently.

“I’ve been coming off the bench in the Shute Shield for a few years now and made my run-on debut last year so it isn’t anything new, but it’s the first time I’ve started the season in the top grade.”

Donato said he’ll do everything in his power to make that No.7 jersey his own for the entire season but admitted he’d earmarked holding his spot until this weekend as a minimum requirement, so to speak.

“It’s always just such a great weekend, I love coming back to Orange whenever I can but it’s even more exciting to be able to come back to play (in the top grade),” he said.

“The game is Orange is always something both (twin brother) Dan and I look forward too, we had May 8 circled on the calendar pretty early on.

“We always show the Easts boys around and have a good time, everyone loves it. It’s great for rugby, and not just for us and the Shute Shield but also for the country clubs back at home.”

Dan Donato hasn’t been named in his customary fullback position this weekend in what’s thought to be a tactical move. While they won’t get to play together on Saturday, they’ve basically done so their entire lives anyway.

“Being twins we’ve been lucky enough to play together virtually our whole lives, but we never take it for granted anyway because we know some people never get that chance,” James Donato said.

Eastern Suburbs sit seventh with two wins and two losses, a relatively disappointing opening month. However most would expect Saturday’s clash to present a big opportunity to return to form against the winless Two Blues.