By MARK CASHMAN

Gordon will start their Shute Shield finals campaign without the services of Mahe Vailanu who picked up a blue card after a head knock against Eastwood last weekend.

The Highlanders finished as minor premiers and will start their post season against Randwick at Pittwater Rugby Park on Saturday.

Vailanu has been one of Gordon’s best throughout the season and coach Darren Coleman expects that he will be available for Week Two of the finals.

Coleman has used Vailanu at both hooker and open side breakaway but the Highlanders have ready replacements in both those slots and will start Super Rugby experienced Robbie Abel in the No.2 jersey and Tom Silk at No.7.

The Wicks have kept their nerve with the only change to their starting XV being the inclusion of sevens star Maurice Longbottom at fullback.

Eastern Suburbs have thrown Charlie Gamble into their back row mix for the game against Eastwood on Sunday.

Gamble will work with Rob Leota and Dean Oakman-Hunt in what looks like a nicely balanced combination.

Sydney Uni have brought Chris Talaki back into their front row at tight head and also included Josh Kemeny in their back row.

Norths have brought German Haeffeli back into their front row for the game against the Students on Saturday , also at Rat Park.

Here’s all the teams for the weekend’s games:

Saturday, October 17

NORTHERN SUBURBS (3) V SYDNEY UNI (4) at Pittwater Rugby Park

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15): 

German Haeffeli, James Margan, Dewald Dekker, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.

SYDNEY UNI (1-15):

Tom Robertson, Declan Moore, Chris Talaki, Oliver Atkins, Ratu Rotuisolia, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Josh Kemeny, Rohan O’Regan, Theo Strang, Stu Dunbar, James Armstrong, Will McDonnell, Henry Clunies-Ross, Matthew Hood, Tim Clements.

GORDON (1) V RANDWICK (6) at Pittwater Rugby Park

GORDON (1-15): 

Brandon Faavae-Eli, Robbie Abel, Charlie Abel, Jack Margin, Brendan Mitchell, Jack Dempsey/James Lough, Tom Silk, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Ahmu Tuimalealifano, Joey Walton, Tautalatasi Tasi, Oli Smeallie, Reece MacDonald.

RANDWICK (1-15):

Jake Turnbull, Dave Vea, George Hendry, Nathan Den Hoedt, Tom Nowlan, Tom Piroddi, Christian Poidevin, Jeral Skleton, Mitch Short, Ben Donaldson, Brooklyn Hardaker, Dave Horwitz, Triston Reilly, Locky Miller, Maurice Longbottom.

Sunday October 18

EASTERN SUBURBS (2) V EASTWOOD (5) at Pittwater Rugby Park

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

Vunipola Fifita, Lindsey Stevens/Moli Sooaemalelagi, Archer Holz, Ryan McCauley, Jack Digby, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Jack Grant (c), Cohan Guerra, Henry Paterson, Lalaki Foketi, Alex Newsome, Richie Woolf, Dan Donato.

EASTWOOD (1-15):

Jed Gillespie, Ed Craig, Rhys Sheriff, Tim Anstee, Charles Granger, Ratu Tuisese, Tom Murphy, Pat Sio, Matt Gonzalez, Tane Edmed, Fabian Goodall, Enoka Muliufi, Devan Stoltz, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Chris Bell.

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY