By MARK CASHMAN

Eastern Suburbs coach Pauli Taumoepeau has warned his side that the trip to Newcastle to play the Hunter Wildfires on Saturday is anything but a “jolly day trip”.

The Wildfires may have had some points put on them so far this season, but they have always been a hard-edged side that is in the contest right until the final whistle.

Take for example the games that I have watched in recent weeks against Northern Suburbs and then Gordon.

Both Norths and Gordon came away from these contest with some walking wounded with the Highlanders needing to keep three normal starters on the sidelines this weekend.

“Yeah a trip up the National Highway is usually because you’re on holiday – we couldn’t be further from that. We’re not out of the woods,” Taumoepeau said ope where his side is at.

“We’re very aware that the Wildfires are a team improving each week in this competition. They’ve been unlucky in patches the last couple of weeks and we’re very aware of their threats.

“There’s a few key areas but one is limiting our unforced errors. Last week we built some good pressure and made some good territory only for unforced errors to kill the movement.”

That was in the good win over Norths, a game where they really needed to get points from or otherwise their season may well have been gone before it had even started.

“Every week, we have a crack and think ‘we are in this’, then it just gets blown away,” Wildfires coach Scott Coleman told the Newcastle Herald this week.

“You can’t fault our blokes’ commitment. They are competing hard and we are very physical. It’s just that execution. We are lacking a bit of direction.

“I can’t really put my finger on it. Hopefully we get through these next two weeks and we can come home with a bit of momentum.”

Chris Ale (calf) and Steve Lamont (concussion) will be available for the clash against the Beasties, while Melbourne duo hooker Declan Cox and Matt Dewar, a prop were strong in second grade in their first appearance after completing quarantine.

HUNTER WILDFIRES (1-15):
David Puchert, Phillip Bradford, Nicholas Dobson, Jeremy Burrill, Sevanaia Rokobara, Alec Corcoran, Shawn Ingle, George Noa, Mahe Fangupo, Michael Moloney, Rob Buserau, Taulogo Lalaga, Carl Manu, Nimilote Qio, Hayden Cole.

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):
Faaleliei Sione, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Vunipola Fifita, Jack Digby, Jeremy Williams, James Donato, Charlie Gamble, Sam Shires, Jack Grant (c), Cohan Guerra, Sam Fogarty, Mésese Tuipulotu, Henry Paterson, Richie Woolf, Daniel Donato.

LAST TIME: not applicable.

IMAGE: STEWART HAZELL / HUNTER WILDFIRES