By TOM PRIMMER

With the first four rounds of play in the books, the premiership favourites are beginning to separate themselves from the chasing pack in the Hospital Cup.

Competition points are at a premium, and multiple losses could spell disaster for any side’s title aspirations.

Let’s take a look at all of the matchups in Round Five.

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

The Bulldogs are yet to register a win in 2020 and will run into a Brothers side who looked to have their attacking form last round.

The Brethren laid on seven tries in their win against Bond in Round Four, with the match their most complete performance of the season thus far.

Livewire scrumhalf Reuben Wall has been forced out with injury, paving the way for youngster Isaac Tarabay to start alongside Rohan Saifoloi in the halves.

Brothers head coach Anthony Mathison said his side are looking to improve their defensive effort after leaking 29-points last round.

“We were happy with the improvement in our attack against Bond but a few lapses in concentration in defence were costly in the second half,” Mathison said.

“Greater consistency in sticking to our systems and completing our first up tackles across the 80-minutes is a real area of focus for us this week.

“Wests are a dangerous team with some powerful ball carriers, point scoring ability through their maul and a quality player at 10 in Carter Gordon who provides direction for them around the pitch.”

After a loss to Norths last round, the Bulldogs will be raring to secure their first win of the season in front of their home crowd at Sylvan Road.

Misioka Timoteo drops out of the XV in place of Tyrone Pritchard at number-eight, while the clash of the backrows looms as huge battle on Saturday, with Jeremiah Skelton and Connor Anderson both impressing for the Bulldogs this season.

Head coach Carl Marshall said his side are looking to capitalise on their attacking opportunities this weekend.

“Last week we put ourselves in the opposition red zone 15 times but were unable to convert those opportunities into scoreboard pressure,” Marshall said.

“Focusing our attention on that aspect of the game is what is required for a successful performance this weekend.”

GPS v Sunnybank | Yoku Road | 3:30pm

After Easts inflicted their first loss of the season in Round 4, the Gallopers will be out to return to the winner’s circle this weekend.

Head coach Elwee Prinsloo has made a major change to his spine, with former Western Force and Samoan international playmaker AJ Alatimu running on at flyhalf for his first game in Jeeps colours since 2017.

Alatimu’s inclusion sees Teti Tela move to the inside-centre jersey.

Prinsloo is expecting a tough challenge against a Sunnybank side who lost by just two-points to defending premiers UQ last weekend.

“We played them in a trial early in the year and they were tough back then,” Prinsloo said.

“They have improved a great deal since last year and even more so over the last few weeks. It will be another great battle that we are looking forward to.

“Our game management wasn’t good enough last weekend and we put pressure on ourselves in key moments.

“We will also look to tidy up or breakdown for the weekend to ensure we can build more pressure in attack.”

Sunnybank captain Tom Lucas has been among the Banker’s best every week this season, slotting the game winning penalty against Souths and leading the side around the park.

Head coach Sione Fukofuka said the former Australian Sevens representative’s influence has been immense.

“Tom has been outstanding for the team,” Fukofuka said.

“He has a great work ethic and is a very good attacking player with skill and vision.

“His biggest contribution has been his game management and composure.

“Defensively he has been one of our best and lead from the front.

“The focus for us this week has been on reinforcing the positive actions from our games and continuing to improve our detail. Set piece and our accuracy at heart contact zone have been a big focus this week.”

Fukofuka has made a number of changes to his side, with Zac Shepherd returning to start in the second row and veteran Rex Tapuai returning to the team.

Bond University v Easts | Bond University Rugby Club | 3:30pm

Easts remain the only undefeated side in the Hospital Cup and will get another test of their premiership credentials when they travel south to face Bond University on the Gold Coast.

The road trip down the M1 is notoriously difficult, while the Bullsharks have also been at their gritty best at points this season, winning two games after the siren courtesy of Mitch Third penalties.

Winger Max Dowd will return for the Gold Coasters on the wing, with the side looking to cause an upset in front of their home crowd.

“This week is huge for us, Easts have been the leading team in the comp so far and we know it’s going to be very physical battle on the day but we’re confident in what we’re doing to be up and ready for the challenge,” Bond skipper Dan Boardman said.

“Training has been really positive this week, everyone’s been getting stuck in and competing wherever is possible to push each other to be better.

“The focus has been around our defence shape and reducing the post contact metres. We are focusing on ourselves and controlling what we can control as that will be a huge factor in the weekends game.”

The Tigers have gone with an unchanged line-up to the side that overcame GPS last weekend and will again look to their set-piece to set the tone at the Canal.

The battle between scrumhalves Eli Pilz and Liam Dillon looms as a key matchup, with Pilz arguably the competition’s form player after the opening four rounds of play.

Head coach Moses Rauluni is wary of the trip south as his side looks to continue their four-game winning streak.

“It’s a tough place to come away with a win for any team,” Rauluni said.

“You have to be on your game and stick to a good game plan, they keep coming at you all day and don’t give up.

“They have some big forwards who carry very well and we have to defend well to stop their momentum so their classy 10 Mitch Third doesn’t give their very quick back three good front foot ball.”

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

After snatching victory at the death in Round Four, the University of Queensland are back at St Lucia this Saturday to take on Souths.

The Heavies have made a number of changes to their starting side, with veteran Albert Anae making his first start of the year at hooker and Connor Vest moving to his preferred position in the backrow from lock.

Rising star Mac Grealy again starts at fullback, and will have experienced playmakers Scott Gale and Con Foley alongside him to steer the ship.

Souths come into the match up fresh from a bye, with the young side ready to get back on the park.

2020 has been a year of learning so far for the Magpies, with the likes of halfback Billy Rutherford, hooker Theo Fourie and lock Reagan Leslie making the jump to Premier Grade Rugby.

Former Romanian international Luke Samoa made his club debut in the side’s last start, a narrow loss to Sunnybank, and impressed with his leadership around the park.

Samoa will captain the side this weekend, and will go up against Gale in a battle of two of the competition’s more experienced playmakers.

Souths head coach Todd Dammers said his side are looking for consistency against a tough UQ outfit.

“I think they have been solid,” Dammers said of the Heavies form this year.

“They are a team that is well coached & know that you do not need to be at your best in Round One but build momentum.

“They are dangerous and looked to be finding their feet in the last part against Sunnybank. Any team with Scotty Gale, Con Foley, Connor Vest and Patty Morrey are going to be a force.

We are focusing on consistency. We are good in spits & spurts, then we are poor, so we just have to keep working to minimise our poor periods of play.”

IMAGE: STEPHEN TREMAIN / QRU