By MARK CASHMAN

Northern Suburbs have welcomed Cam Clark and Pat Tafa from the Waratahs Super Rugby bubble onto their bench for the game against the Western Sydney Two Blues on Saturday.

Clark and Tafa have played little or no rugby since the start of the year and according to Norths coach Earl Va’a they are champing at the bit to play some footy.

“Having them at training and with the guys on Thursday night was great for the group,” Va’a said.

“Our side had been selected on Tuesday night so they will work off the bench and we are expecting them to make an impact.

“We’ve had a good week of training but having said that we did the same last week coming into the game against Eastern Suburbs and we lost.

“It’s up to the playing group to take the learnings from the week of training and translate them onto the playing field. It’s exciting to be honest.”

Norths have made some significant changes in their pack for the game against the Two Blues with the entire starting front row changed.

In comes German Haeffeli, Gary Bautz and Dewald Dekker and out goes Jack Brewer, James Margan and Jayden Lynch.

The Shoremen copped a bit of touch up at scrum time against the Beasties and Va’a and the coaching group felt that it was time to make a change.

The inclusion of Bautz gives Norths a bigger body at hooker and that will be important against a Two Blues side that has been making some strides in recent weeks.

They are coming off a bye this week and their coach Joel Rivers is not unfamiliar with many of the players at Norths having coached the club’s colts to a grand final a number of years back.

The Two Blues got plenty of accolades for their performance against Southern Districts a fortnight ago and will be looking to try and repeat that effort.

The key for them will be staying in the game until the latter stages, something that they haven’t been able to do all season.

This game is being played in Camden and is a Norths home game.

Norths have played there a number of times and have strong links in the area. They trialled there earlier this year and played a competition game against Sydney Uni last year.

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):
German Haeffeli, Gary Bautz, Dewald Dekker, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, George Murrin, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Tom Gilbert, Max Burey.

WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES (1-15):
Jacob Delailoa, Nick Blacklock, Kalafi Pongi (c), Tuitakau Kioa, Emmanual Maliko, Sione Fifita, Patrick Searson, Peni Tuitupou, Liam Tully, Rory Garrett, Jordan Williams, Phillip Pale, Zac Campion, Taliki Nadredre, Robert Duff.

LAST TIME: Northern Suburbs W 31-18 June 29, 2019.

IMAGE: KAREN WATSON