The Sydney Rays have welcomed back experienced duo Matt Lucas and Damien Fitzpatrick into their starting line-up for Sunday’s NRC semi-final against the Perth Spirit at Pittwater Rugby Park.

Lucas will come in and take over the No.9 jersey, while Fitzpatrick will be the starting hooker for the biggest game so far in the Rays’ short history.

Both worked off the bench last weekend in Frankston against the Melbourne Rising where the Rays battled wind gusts of up to 100km/h and a motivated opposition to come away with a 38-32 victory.

That was the team’s sixth win from seven games this NRC season giving them second spot on the ladder and the luxury of a home playoff game on Sunday.

If the Rays win they will play the winner of the game between the NSW Country Eagles (1^st) and the Melbourne Rising (4^th) for the NRC silverware.

The winds were so bad down south on Sunday that the team’s flight out of Melbourne was cancelled and they spent Sunday night and much of Monday in the southern capital.

The time was not wasted though and head coach Simon Cron kicked off preparations for this Sunday’s playoff game with a pool recovery session and a review of last week’s game on the Monday before heading to the airport for an afternoon flight.

The game in Frankston took a toll with No.8 Michael Wells injuring a knee that will see him look on for the rest of the Rays’ 2016 campaign before formally linking with the Waratahs on a two-year deal.

That will mean a tweaking of the backrow for this weekend with Michael Smith coming in for a start at No.8.

Smith has been something of a backrow jack-of-all-trades pinch hitting off the bench and in the No.6 and No.7 jersey.

In-form Jack Dempsey will now remain in his preferred No.6 jersey with Chris Alcock, the belligerent on-baller staying at openside breakaway.

Tighthead prop Angus Ta’avao had his first 80-minute game last weekend and Cron said he would be better for that this week.

“He (Ta’avao) had some dominant ball carries as well as connecting perfectly in our defensive structures,” Cron added.

Alain Miriallakis, who did not travel to Melbourne with the playing group, is another to have been brought into the wider group with a final decision about whether he takes a place on the bench to be made closer to game day.

Con Foley was one of the Rays’ best in the trying conditions at Frankston and he will play a huge role on Sunday, Cron said.

“Con has made a huge impact since arriving in the NRC. His ability to break the line and open up his outsides is a massive asset to any squad and I see him being a Super Rugby player in the near future,” Cron said.

Josh Turner is another who needs to get through training for the rest of the week to be considered for selection after sitting out the game against the Rising.

A decision on whether he takes the field at fullback or whether Johnathan Malo is retained will be made closer to the game.

 Sydney Rays team to play Perth Spirit

Ezra Luxton, Damien Fitzpatrick, Angus Ta’vao, Connor Vest, James Brown, Jack Dempsey, Chris Alcock, Michael Smith, Matt Lucas, Angus Sinclair, Harry Jones, Irae Simone, Con Foley, Lochie Creagh, Josh Turner/Johnathan Malo. Reserves: James Hilterbrand, Rory O’Connor, Alain Miriallakis/Lawrance Hunting, Adrian Hall, Harry Bergelin, Dewet Roos, Sam Lane, TBD.

MACQUARIE UNI SYDNEY RAYS TEAM TO PLAY PERTH SPIRIT

15. Josh TURNER/Johnathan MALO , 14. Lochie CREAH, 13. Con FOLEY, 12. Irae SIMONE, 11. Harry JONES; 10. Angus SINCLAIR 9. Matt LUCAS ©; 8. Michael SMITH, 7. Chris ALCOCK, 6. Jack DEMPSEY, 5. James BROWN, 4. Connor VEST, 3. Angus TA’AVAO, 2. Damien FITZPATRICK, 1. Ezra LUXTON

RESERVES

16. James HILTERBRAND, 17. Rory O’CONNOR, 18. Alain MIRIALLAKIS/Lawrance HUNTING, 19. Adrian HALL, 20. Harry BERGELIN, 21. Dewet ROOS, 22. Sam LANE, 23. Johnathan MALO/Seb WILEMAN/Richard WOOLF/Dennis PILI-GAITAU