By MARK CASHMAN

Round Four of the Shute Shield is with us and the highlight of the action is the game between Gordon and Warringah at Chatswood.

Two coaches who worked with each other two years ago now head to head with pride and competition points on the line.

Elsewhere Eastern Suburbs will host Eastwood, West Harbour will play Randwick on Back to Wests day at Drummoyne, Manly play the Hunter Wildfires and Sydney Uni will test the Penrith defence at Uni.

The weekend will round off with Southern Districts taking on the Two Blues at Forshaw.

GORDON v WARRINGAH at Chatswood Oval

Gordon coach Darren Coleman knows a little bit about revving up a big game like their encounter against the Warringah Rats on Saturday.

Three seasons in charge of the Rats meant that he was knee deep in the twice annual northern beaches derby that has always seen a few hand grenades thrown into the opposition camp in game week.

This week it has been a bit harder with the obvious friendship that ‘DC’ has with Rats boss Mike Ruthven, forged from their time together down at Pittwater Rugby Park.

But still he managed to throw in a couple of rev ups and leg pulls in the hours before kickoff.

“There is always extra spice when you take on your old club and colleagues,” Coleman said.

“‘Rivvo’ is a good young coach with credible aspirations that Aussie Rugby needs to get behind and develop.

“That said, I’m more worried about Rivvo’s son Wilson’s ball-boying tactics. The Sydney Rugby union needs to have good look at this,” Coleman added laughing, his tongue firmly in his cheek

On the footy Coleman feels he knows the triggers that make his opposition tick and is ready to use that for the Highlanders’ betterment on Saturday.

“I make about four or five new faces into their team since I was there two years ago, so you like to think you know their boys pretty well,” he said.

“They came back into some good form against Easts and will be buoyed by that performance.

“Limiting the enterprise of their back three young guns (Ben Woolett, Ben Marr and Charlie Tupu) will be crucial to the ‘W’ as will keeping Sam Ward, Sam Needs and Josh Holmes away from the referee.

“The beauty of our sport is I look forward to hosting and helping my good friends from the Rats drown their sorrows in all grades after a good day of Shute Shield footy.”

Warringah head coach Ruthven is remaining calm and says he will look for a consistent and measured performance from his side.

“We have had a good week to prepare for what will be a really tough game. Gordon are playing a fast, expansive brand of footy, complimented by a tough, hard working forward pack,” he said.

“Our focus this week has been on consistency. We have shown patches of good footy over the last few weeks and we now need to produce that for longer periods in order to walk away satisfied with our performance.

“The players have worked hard this week and we are confident based on that. The team deserve a good performance and no better opportunity to do it against one of the competition favourites.”

GORDON (1-15):
Brandon Faavae-Eli, Mahe Vailanu, Rhys Brodie/Bosco Tagaloa, Jack Margin, Brendan Mitchell/Pete Tagaloa, Tom Silk, James Lough, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Brandon Quinn, Tautalatasi Tasi, Lucas Price, Ahmu Tuimalealiifano, Jaline Graham.

WARRINGAH (1-15):
Jayden Taylor, Wes Thomas, Sam Needs, Andrew Davies, Sam Ward (c), Rory Suttor, Mungo Mason, Charlie McKill, Josh Holmes, Tom Halse, Charlie Tupu, Tyson Davis, Seb Wileman, Ben Woolett, Ben Marr.

EASTERN SUBURBS v EASTWOOD at Woollahra Oval

Eastwood coach Ben Batger reckons his side turned a bit of a corner last week when they beat West Harbour but they will have to be much more complete when they take on Eastern Suburbs on Saturday.

The Woodies rolled in four tries off the back of their maul, but will travel to the east aware that they cannot be a one-trick pony if they are to come away with some reward at Woollahra.

“Easts are a very dangerous side especially at home,” coach Batger said.

“I think their backline in particular are very dangerous with good speed and footwork, while their forwards are well led by Sam Shires and are very hard working .

“Hopefully our maul is strong again this week but we learned the hard way last year that you need to have variety in your attack so we can’t just rely on that (rolling maul) to get us home.

“I’m hoping that we are good enough to identify opportunities and take them when and where they present themselves.”

Beasts coach Pauli Taumoepeau also identified the Eastwood set piece as a major factor in this game.

“They’ve always had a potent set piece led by Ed Craig and from what I have seen it is no different this year,” he said.

“Tane Edmed is another great talent in their group too and will need to be watched.

“He’s a good kid and is doing really well in grade and working with Ben Batger will be so positive for him too.”

Taumoepeau added that his backrow combination will have to keep Michael Icely on the back foot if they are to get any sort of ascendancy on the slick surface that is Woollahra.

“I’ve been really impressed with Michael Icely. He’s done some good things early in this comp.”

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):
Vunipola Fifita, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Archer Holz, Agustin Escalona, Jeremy Williams, Jack Digby, Charlie Smith, Sam Shires, Jack Grant (c), Nicholas Holton, Sam Fogarty, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Henry Paterson, Daniel Donato.

EASTWOOD (1-15):
Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Latu Talaki, Daniel Cosgrove, Charles Granger, Michael Icely, Tom Murphy, Sione Tau, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Lachlan Shelley, Enoka Muliufi, Devan Stolz, Fabian Goodall Chris Bell.

WEST HARBOUR v RANDWICK at Drummoyne Oval

West Harbour are hoping to draw on the “intel” of their own sevens stars to subdue Randwick when they take on the table-topping Galloping Greens on Saturday.

Wests are celebrating Back to Wests day at Drummoyne and they have a variety of activities planned around the day – hopefully the first grade side can top it all off with their first win over the Shute Shield season.

Pirates head coach Mark Gudmunson is aware of the travails of the Two Blues last weekend when the Wicks unleashed three national sevens squad members and ran over the top of them, scoring 42 points after the break.

“We hope they will be chasing us after the break,” Gudmunson added.

“We’ve got some good intel on their sevens boys as we have Josh Coward and Rod Davies in our group, but they are not the only thing we need to be focus on.

“They have some strong strike power across the park, as we do, and I hope the weather holds out and we have the chance to have some fun.”

Gudmunson added: “The score (against Eastwood) did not do justice to the game just gone and we know we are not far off putting it all together.

“We have had a really good week this week in preparation for Randwick and are quite positive about what we can do if we get some ball and some decisions to go our way.”

Randwick coach Ben McCormack said that Wests current zero and three record wasn’t an indication of the ability and potential of their side.

“With the talent in their roster you would not have expected to be 0-3 going into this week, so they will be desperate to start well, so we will need to be on from the first whistle unlike last week,” McCormack said.

“They actually have four Wicks players from last year in their starting team including the entire front row.

“They have forecast a lot of rain on Friday and Saturday morning so we will have to play the conditions well and maybe tighten things up a little.

It should be a good battle but I’m confident we will be up for it.”

WEST HARBOUR (1-15):
Sonny Satuala, Tonga Tangitau, Cam Betham, Amos Viiga, Etienne Oosthuizen, Damien Flemming, Kaliova Nacina, Francis Iremia Saufio, Elliot Turner, Patrick Pellegrini, James Turner, Justin Tavae, Connor Chittenden, Tavite Gadeisuva, Josh Coward.

RANDWICK (1-15):
Jake Turnbull, Dave Vea, George Hendry, Tom Piroddi, Nathan Den Hoedt, Kyle Harris Christian Poidevin, Ryan Powter, Tyzac Jordan, Dave Horwitz, Dylan Pietsch, Kristian Jensen, Simon Kennewell, Triston Reilly, Locky Miller.

SYDNEY UNI v PENRITH at Uni No.2 Oval

Sydney Uni coach Michael Hodge reckons that Penrith have improved with every outing in the Shute and he’s expecting them to take another significant step when the Students take them on on Saturday.

Hodge said: “We definitely won’t be taking Penrith lightly. They certainly proved a few doubters wrong last week, as they pushed Souths for the 80 minutes.

“For us it’s very similar messages to last week. We want to start fast and execute.

“Potentially there’s a a bit of weather around as well, so we will be looking to be far more clinical than Round Two against Manly.”

The Students put on a bit of master class in the first 35 minutes against the Hunter Wildfires last weekend in Newcastle executing with unerring accuracy.

It was different after the break though with the Wildfires coming back into it after a halftime rev up but still the game was gone for them.

The only chance is young Angus Bell, who has been training with the national sevens group, coming in for Ofa Manufetoa who unfortunately suffered a knee injury last weekend.

Penrith coach John Muggleton said some injury worries and unavailability in the front row has seen their side rejigged.

“But what we have talked about this week is having better control and kicking well with the forecast of rain for the weekend,” he said.

“We are making progress. There is still a long way to go and it would be unfortunate if we try and match what they do. We are best keeping it simple and playing at the right end of the field.”

SYDNEY UNI (1-15): Matt Sandell, Patrick O’Doherty, Darcy Breen, Luke Porter, Thomas Willson, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Jack McCalman, Rohan O’Regan, Banjo Travers, Connor O’Shea, James Kane, Will McDonnell, Henry Clunies-Ross, Angus Bell, Tim Clements.

PENRITH (1-15):
Mark Roparti, Delahoya Manu, Macia Latabua, Timoci Wasarua, Sevanaia Nadruku, Lucas Castle, John Tuivaiti, Sosifa Funaki, Terry Fanolua, Dean Blore, Jeremiah Fa’amasili, Riley Alcorn, Luke Nadurutalo, Jale Seninawanawa, Levi Tofa.

MANLY V HUNTER WILDFIRES at Manly Oval

Manly Marlins coach Matt McGoldrick is hoping the addition of the ageless Harry Bergelin to their back row will up the energy levels that were lacking at times last weekend against Norths when they take on the Hunter Wildfires on Saturday.

Bergelin, still only 29 years but a constant in the Manly back row for the best part of the last decade, was missing last week to recover from a cut near his eye that could have compromised his tear duct.

His experience was missed and his input particularly over the ball and in defence will be crucial to subduing a Wildfires side that seems to be coping better and better with Shute Shield with every outing.

Their second half – after a real rocket at half-time by coach Scott Coleman – against Uni was a great effort.

“Newcastle are energetic and have got some players that can hurt you from distance,” McGoldrick said.

“We need to be better with our work at the breakdown and use of the ball.

“Having Harry Bergerlin back will give us his energy and attacking options. We are looking to build some combinations now.”

The Marlins will field another halves combination with Tim Donlan coming in at No.9 and BJ Hartmann taking over at flyhallf.

This follows the season ending injury to James Ohmsen which he sustained in the second half against Northern Suburbs.

Hartmann will do well and knows what the coaches have in mind, he just needs time in the saddle as he takes on this all important role.

In his favour is the fact that he has a good forward pack in front of him and they will have been stung by the result and effort against Norths.

McGoldrick added referring to the loss this year of first Sam lane and then Ohmsen: “We are just getting on with it this week. It’s been a good week of training and the boys are up for it this week.”

Wildfires head coach Scott Coleman says he is happy with the development of his skipper and lock Adam Edwards.

“After the first game against Randwick he swept the shed out … things like that,” Coleman told James Gardiner at the Newcastle Herald this week.

“He is just a real team player. He surprised me how good a players he is. You put him in a team where everyone knows their job and he just has to concentrate on his job and he is phenomenal. Every week, he has got better and better.”

He will be tested against the big Manly pack along with the likes of hooker Steve Lamont and Sevanaia Rokobara.

MANLY MARLINS (1-15):
Alefosio Tatola, James Hilterbrand, Conor Davidson, Van Stewart, Alex Dalzell, Harry Bergelin, Mitch Tye, Max Douglas, Tim Donlan, BJ Hartmann, Jack Veitch, Hutana Coffin, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Michael Adams, Yool Yool.

HUNTER WILDFIRES (1-15):
David Puchert, Steve Lamont, Nicholas Dobson, Adam Edwards, Sevanaia Rokobara, Sitiveni Waqa, Shawn Ingle, Benjamin Ham, Mahe Fangupo, Michael Moloney, Rob Buserau, Angus Brown, Hayden Cole, Nimilote Qio, Chad Northcott.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS v WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES at Forshaw Rugby Park

Southern Districts coach Todd Louden believes that the team that handles the expected big wet on Saturday will come away happy as he readies his side to take on the Western Sydney Two Blues.

Souths picked up a few knocks against Penrith last weekend but pretty much remain intact.

“The group’s travelling pretty well to be honest and we are looking forward to the weekend,” Louden said.

“We picked up a couple of injuries but the big in for us is the return of Tim Metcher who will be key if the conditions are as we expect them to be.

“The key though to this game will be handling the wet conditions ( there are about 60 mills due on Saturday) and just playing some simple rugby.”

Along with tighthead prop Metcher the Rebels will be buoyed by the return to the starting side to Harry McLennan, the opensider who has impressed after coming over from rugby league at the Newtown Jets.

Two Blues coach Joel Rivers said discipline has been a work on this week as they prepared to head to Forshaw.

“We played with 14 men for 30 minutes due to yellow cards which was a joke from the ref but you can’t beat or keep up with a team like Randwick with 14 men for that long,” Rivers said.

“Unfortunately the scoreline didn’t tell the true story about how tough a game it was, but there is plenty to take out of that effort and work on.

“Execution and effort is our focus points, both of which need improvement every week.”

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (1-15): Laurence Tominiko, Ryan Connolly, Tim Metcher, Isoa Nasilasila, Jake Douglas, Philip Potgieter, Harry McLennan, Dominic McGrath, Sam Harris, Liam Moseley, Christian Kagiassis, Viliami Latu, Nathan Lawson, Apaola Tea Lama, Daniel Bell.

WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES (1-15): Airi Hunt, Nick Blacklock, Kalafi Pongi (c), Tevita Vea, Sev Domonia, Sione Fifita, Tuitakau Kioa, Emmanual Maliko, Liam Tully, Rory Garrett, Niko Dalivusa, Phillip Pale, Leviticus Dodd, Jordan Williams, Robert Duff.

NORTHERN SUBURBS has the bye

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY