By Michael Atkinson.

GPS put their unbeaten start on the line, the Battle of the Birds gets a Red tinge, and UQ get their recruits back, all that and more in the third instalment of Premier Rugby for 2018.

Sunnybank vs. GPS (Oldmac Oval, Saturday 3:20pm) – Match of the Round

A dominant win over Brothers, backed up by a gutsy victory over Bond have Jeeps sitting pretty on top of the table as the only side with two wins from two games in 2018. They’ll face their biggest challenge so far against second placed Sunnybank (1 draw, 1win).

One guy who has impressed for Jeeps this season is young loose head prop, Jonah Pologa. Filling the massive shoes of Laione Mulikihaamea is not an easy task, but the young front rower has really stepped up in the opening two rounds; taking his opportunity with both hands. He’ll face another big test of his progress tomorrow against a formidable Sunnybank pack.

The Gallopers had the wood over the Dragons in 2017; two narrow wins with an average winning margin of just three points. This game will be just as tense as two competition heavyweights come head-to-head once again.

Atko’s tip: GPS by 7

University of Queensland vs. Bond University (St. Lucia, Saturday 3:20pm)

The battle of the students (rumour has it there’ll be a chess match at half time).

UQ have dominated this battle in recent seasons, in fact, you’d probably have to go back a decade (at least) to find the last time the Gold Coast side defeated their northern academic rivals.

The Red Heavies have suffered just one loss in the home-and-away rounds in the past two seasons; they got that customary defeat out of the way last weekend in a shock result against Brothers. They were, however, missing half a dozen of their first-choice players, most of whom will return this weekend. Bond have had two very narrow losses to start 2018; they look a much-improved side this season, but don’t expect UQ to lose two in a row.

Tip: UQ by 10.

Easts vs. Brothers (Bottomley Park, Saturday 3:20pm)

The Tigers are hurting at the moment.

They had victory snatched from their jaws in round 1 against Uni, and last week almost ran down a 20-point deficit against Souths. They’re hungry for a win and they’ll be even hungrier tomorrow in front of a huge crowd on their annual Old Boys Day.

Brothers have shown they won’t be pushovers however, causing a huge upset by defeating Uni last weekend.

This one will be a belter. Plenty of history between these two clubs and always entertaining clashes.

Tip: Tigers at home by 8

Norths vs. Souths (Shaw Sports, Saturday 3:20pm)

Feathers will fly at Hugh Courtney Oval.

Souths are soaring after opening their 2018 account with a good win at home over Easts. Norths are fresh after having a two-week break (Easter and bye in round 2), following their first-round draw with Sunnybank.

Quade Cooper’s presence drew what some have described as a crowd “unseen since the Horan-Little days of the ‘90s” to Chipsy Wood last week. Expect similar numbers to flock to Shaw Sports this weekend. Quade is, of course, a big draw card, but the way the Magpies play with him pulling the strings is an attraction in itself: free-flowing, expansive, caution-to-the-wind.

Cooper’s match up at 10 with boom youngster Nick Jooste will be the personal battle to keep an eye on.

But it gets juicier, with Reds player Duncan Paia’aua also dropping back to club rugby this weekend and will slot into the Eagles backline.

Tip: Souths by 5.

Atko’s 2018 Premier Rugby tipping record: 6.5/8 (81%).

All matches are livestreamed via redsrugby.com.au