By MARK CASHMAN

For the second time in as many weeks Northern Suburbs have been forced to make a late change as they prepare for their 7FLIX TV match of the round against Sydney Uni on Saturday.

Waratahs squad member Cam Clark dropped out of Norths starting side on Thursday night after copping a head knock in last week’s game against Southern Districts.

Clark has been a major contributor to the way that the Shoremen have played and contributed significantly to the big win over Gordon and Chatswood Oval and last weekend in windy conditions at Rat Park against Souths.

The other one missing from Norths side this week is Dewald Dekker who has had a run of yellow cards and will have to sit out this week.

For Dekker in comes Isaac Cavu, who has been missing since tweaking a hamstring in Norths win over the Hunter Wildfires in Round Five.

The John Thornett Cup is being played for in honour of the greatest Wallaby captain of them all and it must be said that there is a lot on the line for the home side.

Uni sit in sixth place on the Shute Shield competition table after the loss to Gordon last weekend and if things don’t go their way over the next two rounds they could miss out on the playoffs.

They have lost three on the bounce and the heat is on.

Uni coach Michael Hodge mulled over the possibilities with Rugby News earlier this week and knows that a good performance is needed sooner rather than later.

More of the “the good stuff” over longer periods of time is what he wants.

“Norths are an excellent team, and have proved that with big wins over the last month,” Hodge said.

“However, this week is firmly about us.

“We’ve showed patches of the game we want to play over the past three weeks, but we need greater consistency over the 80 minutes.

“Our set piece is a strength and we will look to continue build on our combinations. Nice to be able to name an unchanged line up.”

Norths coach Earl Va’a said nothing would change for the Shoremen this week against Uni.

Against Southern Districts they had to work hard in defence early and played for large sections of the game without the ball and completed over 100 more tackles than the Rebels.

“We’ve just got to make sure that every one understands their roles and execute to the required level,” Va’a said. “Nothing changes this week against Uni.

“From what I have seen over the past few weeks they seem to have been giving games away but they are still a quality side and will be tough.”

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.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):

German Haeffeli, James Margan, Isaac Cavu, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Charlie Jeavons-Fellows, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.