By TOM PRIMMER

It’s Round Nine of the Hospital Cup, and with only three regular season games remaining the top-four is anything but set.

Ladder-leaders the University of Queensland have the bye this week, giving second placed Easts the chance to leapfrog them into first if they can beat Wests at home on Saturday.

Brothers are within touching distance of fourth spot and can move up if they beat Norths and results go their way, while GPS can consolidate their position in the finals picture against Souths at Chipsy Wood oval.

Third placed Bond University travel to Oldmac Oval to take on Sunnybank to round out all the action.

Let’s take a look around the grounds.

Norths v Brothers | Hugh Courtney Oval | 3:30pm

Norths will host Brothers this weekend in what is the annual instalment of the Northside derby.

The Brethren seem to have hit their straps in recent weeks, with a hard-nosed forward pack and some exciting young outside backs propelling the side into fifth spot, just two points adrift of Jeeps in fourth.

Experienced lock Brad Kapa is back for the side and will pack down alongside Will Wilson in the second row.

The battle between outside centres Hudson Creighton (Brothers) and Reece Tapine (Norths) shapes as an interesting aspect of this one, with both youngsters setting the competition alight in their first seasons in Premier Grade.

Brothers head coach Anthony Mathison said Saturday can be a season-defining encounter for his side.

“We know that Norths will be ready to give us everything on Saturday,” Mathison said.

“It is always a tough day when Brothers play Norths and this week we will be no different. Our team knows the importance of this Saturday’s match and how it will shape our season, so I’m confident that we will turn up ready to play.

“Norths have a number of dangerous players who we won’t be taking lightly.

“They enjoyed a good win against Wests and narrowly lost to Bond University late in the match earlier in the season so we know they have the ability to challenge the top sides in this competition.

“For our group, the focus is all about playing the way that we want to play the game and executing at the level that we expect of ourselves.

“We set high standards and we’ll continue to work towards those this Saturday.”

The Eagles have named a largely unchanged XV and will be hoping to impress their home crowd in what is their penultimate home game of the season.

Souths v GPS | Chipsy Wood Oval | 3:30pm

After a disappointing loss to Wests last round, GPS need to bounce back this weekend when they face Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval.

The Magpies are coming off a 63-5 drubbing at the hands of Brothers, meaning there should be no shortage of motivation for either side this weekend.

The Gallopers have made a number of changes to their side, with AJ Alatimu returning to the flyhalf jersey and Teti Tela moving to fullback in place of Jono Kent.

Namalo Kauyaca is in for Nic Richards in the back row, while veteran Dan Gorman has come out of retirement to start in place of Kieran Johnston, with Jethro Felemi also returning to strengthen the front row.

Tela’s move to fullback will see him go up against former Romanian international Luke Samoa in what should be a great battle between two of the competition’s classiest playmakers.

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo said his side will need to be at their best against a young and enthusiastic Souths line-up.

“Our focus has been on our attitude to physically work harder and faster for longer periods of the game.

“They are young and energetic and they are not afraid to have a crack from anywhere.”

Still searching for their first win of the season proper, the clash is a chance for the young side to impress their home crowd this Saturday.

The Magpies have shown glimpses of their full potential almost every week but have failed to convert it into an 80-minute performance as of yet.

Sunnybank v Bond University | Oldmac Oval | 3:30pm

Bond University will be looking to continue their drought-breaking charge to the finals this weekend but will have to go through a tough Sunnybank side on Saturday.

The ladder may not show it, but the Bankers have been one of the competition’s grittiest sides in 2020, with most of their losses coming but just a converted try or less.

The Dragons will welcome back Dave Feao and Rex Tapuai, while their backline combination of the McNamara brothers, Liam and Neal, with Tom Lucas and Hayden Sargeant means the side is capable of scoring points from anywhere.

Sunnybank head coach Sione Fukofuka said his side has focused on accuracy after a disappointing loss to Easts last round.

“To beat Bond we will need to defend well against a very confident team and limit their attacking opportunities.

“Our set piece needs to set a strong platform and we need to win the collisions for 80mins.

“This week we have focused on being more accurate and clinical.

“We felt that we missed a number of opportunities on the weekend against Easts and didn’t play up to our standards.”

Fresh from a bye round, Bond have named another potent backline to take on the Dragons, with centre-paring Dan Boardman and Ryan Menzies combining will in 2020.

In the forwards, Connor Pritchard will again be key for the side, with his work rate and presence at the breakdown a point of difference for the Bullsharks this season.

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

Easts host Wests this weekend in what is the Tiger’s final home game of 2020.

With the University of Queensland having the bye, the Tigers can move into top spot with a win, making this one a pivotal clash for the side.

George Francis has returned to the starting side to partner Rhys van Nek and Richie Asiata, with their set-piece battle against another of the competition’s best scrummaging teams an huge factor in this one.

Michael Gunn has been named to make his return off the bench, with Tom Milosevic, George Bloomfield and skipper Ben Mowen starting in the back row.

Rhys Jacks has retained his spot at flyhalf and will partner Eli Pilz in the halves, while Aidan Toua will direct the side around the park from fullback.

Wests returned to form last weekend, and although their finals chances are slim, they can still make a late charge to the top-four with wins in their next three matches.

Cooper Whiteside will again start at flyhalf, with Callum Hicks making the fullback jersey his own after a number of impressive performances at the back,

Jeremiah Skelton is a chance to return to strengthen the back row, with openside Connor Anderson key to the Bulldogs chances as per usual.

Second row combination Rob Puliuvea and Will Dearden will also be crucial, as the Bulldogs look to continue their late run to a finals berth.

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU

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