By TOM PRIMMER

Just four rounds of the 2020 Hospital Cup season remain, and it’s do or die for every team as the race to finals enters its final stretch.

Round Eight will see Brothers hosts Souths, GPS travel to Sylvan Road to face the Bulldogs, Easts in action at Tigerland against Sunnybank and to round out the action, the University of Queensland will take on Norths at St Lucia.

Let’s take a look around the grounds.

Brothers v Souths | Crosby Park | 3:30pm

Currently sitting six points adrift of the top-four, the Brethren need a win to claw their way back into finals contention, and will be looking to do just that against the Magpies this weekend.

Brothers were narrowly defeated by ladder leaders UQ last weekend, while Souths were taught a lesson by a clinical Easts side at Chipsy Wood Oval.

The hosts have been forced into a number of changes, with former Queensland Reds front rower Matt Mafi and Christian Savelio moving into the starting pack after lock Brad Kapa was ruled out with concussion.

Head coach Anthony Mathison is wary of the young Magpies, who beat the Brethren in the first trial game after the COVID break.

“Starting well and winning the physical battles will be key against Souths,” Mathison said.

“They are a young, energetic team who thrive off getting momentum.

“We love playing at home in front of our family, friends and supporters.

“Our players love the atmosphere and it’s a huge boost to know that everyone is cheering us on.”

Souths have named an unchanged side as their young group continues to build combinations and experience at the next level.

Magpies halfback Billy Rutherford will go head to head with fellow youngster Isaac Tarrabay, while two of the competition’s most exciting outside backs Lukas Ripley (Souths) and Nate Carroll (Brothers) will also face off.

After rallying in the second stanza last weekend, Souths head coach Todd Dammers is looking for his side to continue that momentum this week.

“We need to build on our second half against Easts,” Dammers said.

“There were some pleasing aspects of that second half but we understand that our first half wasn’t up to scratch.

“Brothers are a strong and dangerous team, we will need to be at our best.”

Wests v GPS | Sci-Fleet Stadium | 3:30pm

It’s Ladies’ Day at Sylvan Road, and Wests will be out to impress against GPS in front of a huge home crowd.

These two sides met in the first round of trials, with the Gallopers getting the chocolates in what was a high-scoring and attacking encounter at Yoku Road.

After an impressive 2020 campaign thus far, destructive backrower Jeremiah Skelton is out for the Bulldogs, with Callum Smith filling his boots in the back row.

Jacob Carmichael and Cooper Whiteside will steer the side around in the halves, with their battle against their Jeeps counterparts Cullin Cooper-Jones and AJ Alatimu key in this one.

With the Gallopers currently facing a severe shortage in their front row stocks, with 10 players ruled out, the Bulldogs will also back their strong set-piece, with Liam Usher, Bronson Fotualii and Gav Luka all impressing at scrum time this season.

After proving too strong for Norths last weekend, GPS have gone with a largely unchanged XV this weekend as they aim to consolidate their spot in the top four.

Captain and club stalwart Michael Richards will celebrate his 100th Premier Grade game for the club, meaning there should be no shortage of motivation for the side.

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo is looking for a strong defensive showing from his side.

“They have been a bit of a bogey team for us,” Prinsloo said of the Bulldogs.

“The scores are always really close. For us it’s important to do the simple things right.

“Defence is key to stop their momentum and earn opportunities to attack. Controlling the tempo of the game will be important for us to get outcomes in attack.

“Wests have been a bit unlucky at times.

“They have a massive pack and their set piece is certainly a strength of theirs. They have also shown they are capable of scoring plenty of points.”

University of Queensland v Norths | St Lucia | 3:30pm

Norths have been somewhat of a bogey team for ladder leaders the University of Queensland, and they’ll need to be at their best if they are to make it five wins on the trot this weekend.

The Eagles beat the Students at Hugh Courtney Oval last season, while it was only a James Dalgleish penalty after the siren that got Uni over the line in their other encounter in 2019.

The Heavies will field a vastly different line-up this weekend, with a number of big names out for the side with some niggling injuries.

Star playmakers Scott Gale, Con Foley and Brad Twidale have all been forced out, while TJ Siakisini and Fergus Lillicrap have also succumbed to injury.

Their absence gives a number of the club’s rising stars an opportunity, with Jasper Mellish starting in the flyhalf jersey in his first year out of school and Tom van der Schyff and Richard Clift both coming into the second row after impressive performances in Reserve Grade.

18-year-old Mac Grealy, who leads the competition in tries, will be important for the side at fullback, as will scrumhalf Jordan Lenac who will take on more playmaking responsibility with Gale, Foley and Twidale ruled out.

UQ Director of Rugby Elton Berrange is excited to see the club’s youngsters get an opportunity in the top grade this weekend.

“We’re starting six Colts this weekend and they’re full of energy,” Berrange said.

“We will need to win the set-piece battle. Norths have a very good scrum and we need to combat that and win that battle.

“The other focus will be stopping their offloads. They are the best offloading team in the competition so it’s an area we’ve focused on.

“It’s great to be back at home. We haven’t played here since Round 5 and there’s a big day planned with it being Mental Health Round.”

Norths have also been forced into changes, with flyhalf Jacob Prideaux ruled out.

Connor Scurr moves into the number-10 jersey, while Ethan Richards will start on the wing.

Injured Norths playmaker Nick Chapman said his side will need to capitalise on attacking chances against the defending premiers.

“We will need to apply constant pressure on them, and execute when we get opportunities,” Chapman said.

“Think our forwards will be key, if we have dominance at the set piece we will give our backs a good platform to attack.”

Easts v Sunnybank | David Wilson Field | 3:30pm

Queensland Premier Rugby has introduced Mental Health Round this week, with Easts and Sunnybank playing for the Rick Tyrell Cup in honour of former Easts and Sunnybank player who lost his battle with mental illness in 2015.

The Tigers have been forced into a change in their backrow, with George Bloomfield starting at blindside flanker against his former club in place of Tom Milosevic.

Rhys Jacks has also been recalled to the starting XV in place of flyhalf Jack Frampton, and will partner Eli Pilz in the halves.

Easts have established themselves as the competition’s strongest scrummaging side, and the likes of Rhys van Nek, Richie Asiata and George Francis will be looking to continue that trend with a raucous home crowd at their back.

After having the bye last week, Sunnybank have moved two of their more experienced heads into their starting line-up, with former Wallabies flyer Digby Ioane making his first start on the wing and Tongan international Josh Afu starting at lock.

Head coach Sione Fukofuka said his side is prepared for a tough battle against the premiership heavyweights after a bye last week.

“The focus over the bye was to refresh physically and refocus for the last four games of the regular season,” Fukofuka said.

“We have had three close losses and needed to mentally reset, so we had an adjusted week of training before refocusing for Easts this week.

“To compete with Easts, we will need to secure set piece possession, take away their time with the ball and build pressure by holding the ball.

“We will need to be physical with and without the ball, take our opportunities and keep backing up for 80-minutes.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU