Both the NSW Country Eagles and the Sydney Rays have named their sides for this weekend’s blockbuster top of the table NSW derby at Warringah’s Rat Park on Saturday.

The two NSW teams have been the big improvers of the 2016 National Rugby Championship through the opening three rounds and both remain undefeated. The Rays sit one competition point ahead of the Eagles after picking up three bonus points.

Coming off three successive victories over competition heavyweights Brisbane City, Canberra and Melbourne, Eagles coach Darren Coleman has made one change to his starting XV from last week, with prop Tom Robertson set to miss the clash after earning a potential Wallabies call-up. Sam Needs will start the match, with Cam Betham named on the bench.

The Rays held off a fast finishing QLD Country side last week to continue their unbeaten start to the year and welcome back Waratahs star Jack Dempsey to their starting XV, following an automatic two match suspension after receiving two yellow cards in one match.

Dempsey’s Tahs’ teammates Angus Ta’avao and Harry Jones have both however been ruled out of Saturday’s match through injury.

Aussie 7s stars Cam Clark and Con Foley will both start for the Rays, while teammate Tom Cusack will play from the bench for the Eagles.

Rays coach Simon Cron and his Northern Suburbs players at the Rays have now won their last 16 straight matches after claiming the 2016 Shute Shied title and haven’t tasted defeat since the first weekend in May.

Sydney Rays (1-23)

Rory O’Connor/Ezra Luxton, Damien Fitzpatrick, Lawrance Hunting, Connor Vest, Nick Palmer, Jack Dempsey, Will Miller, Michael Wells, Matt Lucas, Angus Sinclair, Johnathan Malo/Josh Turner, Irae Simone, Con Foley, Josh Turner/Seb Wileman, Cam Clark. Reserves: James Hilterbrand, Rory O’Connor/Ezra Luxton, Mitch Lewis, Adrian Hall, Michael Smith, James Brown, Dewet Roos, Sam Lane, TBC.

NSW Country Eagles (1-23)

Paddy Ryan, Tolu Latu, Sam Needs, Ned Hanigan, Tm Buchanan, Sam Figg, Rowan Perry, Sam Ward, Jake Gordon, Andrew Deegan, Alex Newsome, Kyle Godwin/Tom Hil, Dave Horwitz, Reece Robinson, Angus Roberts. Reserves: Jed Gillespie, Folau Fainga’a, Cam Betham, Ryan McCauley, Tom Cusack, Mark Baldwin, Tayler Adams, Tom Hill/Kyle Godwin.