Coaches have described this pre-season as the most bizarre in the long history of the Shute Shield and it’s pretty hard to argue with that.

Delays, social distancing and no contact work added to coaching via Zoom meeting and WhatsApp groups, it’s all been part of the mix.

But it’s time and the footy is back and it’s something we should celebrate in these times.

Here’s Rugby News’ look at the games this weekend:

WARRINGAH v SYDNEY UNI at Pittwater Rugby Park (TV game on Seven Two at 3pm)

It’s all theory and training drills until you head out on to the park but in many respects Warringah and Sydney Uni wouldn’t have it any other way as the Shute Shield makes its belated start this weekend.

A grand final replay from last year no less and two sides that are certain to be there or there about once the finals start up in October belting each other about.

Sydney Uni’s late come-from-behind victory in the heat at BankWest Stadium was one of the better grand finals of recent times and the rivalry between these two sides has only gone to a higher plane.

The Rats have retained much of their playing stock from last year, they will miss Hamish Angus at No.10 and Harry Jones out wide, but there is a depth of experience and talent in the group that signals to me that the “premiership window” is still open.

That grand final loss cut deep at the Rats and coach Mike Ruthven spoke of finishing the job when Rugby News spoke to him about this season’s prospects.

“Last year showed us that to win the Shute Shield you need to be accurate and clinical till the absolute end,” Ruthven said. “We had a very successful year in many respects, yet came up short when it mattered.

“The experience of previous years is always a factor in your preparation for a new season and we will be a little harder around the edges in those championship moments.”

At Uni it’s been all change with a fresh deck of players and a whole new coaching with the departure of Rob Taylor to the Leicester Tigers.

Michael Hodge has taken over and he has been immediately confronted with some curly ones in the front row.

“The Waratahs have got our 1, 2, 3 and 17 so that means there is an opportunity for some of our younger group,” Hodge said.

“On top of that our ‘elder statesman’ Matt Sandell at 25 did a hamstring at training and is out too.

“We’re going with young Darcy Breen at tighthead and Tom Osborne, who got a taste of First Grade footy last season, at loosehead.

“Rory O’Connor and Wayne Borsak are experience campaigners. But I’ve got full confidence in our young front row. They both deserve first crack this weekend.”

The big in for Uni though is the return of skipper Rohan O’Regan at No.8 and that is a big boost for their pack.

Lots at stake in this one but you just get the feeling that the Rats will take the first round of what will be fascinating start to this season.

GORDON v EASTERN SUBURBS at Chatswood Oval

The rivalry between Gordon and Eastern Suburbs is alive and well and the next chapter will be played out this weekend.

A late try by Beasties skipper and scrum half Jack Grant meant that the Highlanders missed last year’s playoff despite winning as many games as the sixth place Manly.

Lack of bonus points hurt the Highlanders cause and coach Darren Coleman has made that a priority as this Covid-19 affected competition gets underway.

But Easts have some real quality about them and I am expecting them to be there at the business end of this season.

“I like what we’ve been able to build off the back of a positive Covid-19 period,” Easts coach Pauli Taumoepeau said.

“Gordon are a passionate side. They’re a team building on a solid 2019 season and they’ll be out to get us back for the defeat at Chatswood last time around. No doubt they felt unlucky to have lost that.

“We’ll need to contain their attacking flair. They’ve got some really exciting players. If we give them too much time and space we’ll be in a bit of bother.”

Lots of quality in this Gordon lineup though with Jordy Goddard always a major contributor at No.8 and speed out wide in Jaline Graham, Brandon Quinn and Tautalatasi Tasi.

This one will have some points in it and it will be tight.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS v EASTWOOD at Forshaw Rugby Park

There’s a rugby truism out there that says the first player picked in any good side should be the tighthead prop and then after that the tighthead prop that will sit on the bench.

Well Southern Districts coach Todd Louden has got the first selection decision right with the arrival of Tim Metcher back at Forshaw for the start of their Shute Shield season against Eastwood on the weekend.

Metcher is back in the country after some time at the Melbourne Rebels and a stiny in the MLR with the Seattle Seawolves that saw him help them to the title.

“He’ll be good to have around. He knows the place and the others around him can learn from his experience up the tree here in Australia and in the United States,” Louden said.

Louden has spoken about a reset at the Rebels and that will certainly be put to the test against a Woodies side that is looking formidable and headed for finals.

Ben Batger has a list of familiar faces up front with Jed Gillespie, Tom Murphy and skipper Pat Sio doing the grunt work while in the backs there is the skill of young Tane Edmed at flyhallf and the size and strength of Fabian Goodall and NRL convert Tim Simona.

The Woodies had an excellent trial against Northern Suburbs last weekend winning by a couple of tries.

They forced Norths to push some of their passes and were able to swoop to take things up the other end on a number of occasions.
This one could be a good old dockyard brawl and will only open up once the fat blokes get a bit tired.

WEST HARBOUR v NORTHERN SUBURBS at Drummoyne Oval

West Harbour have rolled out the big guns as they attempt to start their Shute Shield campaign with a win over Northern Suburbs.

Pirates coach Mark Gudmunson has selected Cam Betham, Sonny Satuala and big South African lock Etienne Oosthuizen in his pack and they will attempt to overwhelm a Norths side that is light on the kilos and the experience up front.

“Yeah it’s a pretty big pack that we have gone with,” Gudmunson said.

“I think that is where we will have the best chance of beating Norths, with strong carries and using our big guys at the right end ope the field.

“That said I still have no real idea of their structure or how they will play because there are a lot of new faces in there, so that is a bit of a mystery. We will be just playing some hard West Harbour Rugby.”

Norths have gone with a rookie front row in Jack Brewer, hooker James Morgan and Jayden Lynch, a trio that may be challenged at scrum time but have been efficient elsewhere in the trials.

Angus Sinclair will be calling the shots at No.10 for Norths this week and it will be interesting to see how Max Burey, the younger brother of centre Harry, goes about things at fullback.

Wests centres Connor Chittinden and Justin Tavae along with Rod Davies will be other to watch if their forwards get a bit of a roll on.

RANDWICK v HUNTER WILDFIRES at Coogee Oval

The return of the Hunter Wildfires to the Shute Shield won’t be the only show when Randwick hosts the boys from Newcastle.

One of the more interesting machinations from this game will be what sort of effect Aussie Sevens star Maurice Longbottom has on the game when he comes on sometime in the second half.

‘Mozz’ is one hell of a rugby athlete but he hasn’t played a single second of XVs in his life and how he copes with lack of space and a rushing defence will be educational to say the least.

Wicks coach Ben McCormack has come up with a solid looking starting side with opensider Christian Poidevin, No.10 Dave Horwitz and fullback Locky Miller the features.

“We’re expecting the Wildfires to be physical, well-drilled and hyped up to their eye balls for their first crack at Shute Shield,” McCormack said.

“I know ‘Bubba’ (Wildfires coach Scott Coleman) is a switched on and has a good footy brain, he’s very committed to coaching up to date content and does regular personal development with the Super Rugby sides so tactically I’m expecting them to be sharp.

“My boys are itching to get into it so it’s going to be a very willing contest. We will need to pick our battles and be smart with our option taking until we get a handle on how they are going to try and play.”

Coleman said the whole Hunter rugby community was excited about taking on a great club like Randwick.

“All the players are definitely pumped and up for it, it’s gonna be a fast open game as that’s Randwick style,” he said.

“It’s been a quick fire prep for our group but I have been happy with the way that Ben Ham, Rob Buaserau and Nimilote Qio have got themselves ready for the jump in class.

“And our captain Chris Ale will lead from the front as always.”

Not only competition points at stake here there’s also the dinner and drinks bill after the game which will be handed promptly to the losing coach!

MANLY v WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES at Manly Oval

Manly Marlins hooker James Hilterbrand has been called many things by many people but the last thing you would think you would label him as is a vegan.

But yes ‘Cecil’ has been converted and it’s kept his ageing rig in pretty good shape as the Marlins prepare for the first round of the 2020 Shute Shield.

His coach Matt McGoldrick says he hasn’t been as lean and as strong for many a season.

“He told me he ate an apple pie for breakfast the other day, says it’s great,” McGoldrick reported faithfully to Rugby News.

Hilterbrand will lead a pretty handy looking pack for the Marlins on Saturday that includes Alefosio Tatola, Conor Davidson, Dan Alley and Harry Bergelin.

But the one that will be turning heads according to McGoldrick will be young Max Douglas, just out of colts and running around in the No.7 jumper.

“Yes Max will be one to watch that’s for sure,” McGoldrick added.

“We’re expecting Parra that they always seem to bring to Manly Oval. There will be a lot of ball movement.”

The Two Blues have given the Marlins a few scares over the years and they were unlucky not to get their scalp in Round One last year.

Nathan Blacklock will take the game to the Marlins from hooker along with co-captains Kalafi Hongi and Riley Jacobson.

Manly are fit and focussed and should one able to weather any storm that the Two Blues bring to the Village Green.

PENRITH has the bye and will play Northern Suburbs at Bond Andrews Oval in  Round Two.