By MARK CASHMAN

Gordon are four points clear at the top of the Shute Shield competition table but they are approaching the game against Southern Districts on Saturday as a litmus test on where their premiership credentials sit.

The Highlanders lost their two starting tight head props – Rhys Brodie and Bosco xxxxx – against Randwick last weekend and won’t see them again in 2020.

There’s a truism in our game that says that the most important selection decision made each week centres around who plays tight head prop.

After that it’s who will come on to replace the tight head prop previously mentioned – after that you can work out the rest of the team without too much trouble.

Sean Dillon has been handed the keys for the Highlanders and will play a key role in the way that this game and the rest of the season pans out.

He will be helped by the presence of Robbie Abel, back from the Waratahs Super Rugby bubble, at hooker but Souths are sure to try and go from scrum to scrum and see what happens.

Souths have named Andrew Tuala, Joe Cotton and Tim Metcher as their starting front row but they can draw on the services of another Waratah Tetera Faulkner.

The Gordon game revolves around a very good set piece with many of their starter moves requiring a sound scrum or lineout and if this can be disrupted the home team here might be in the game longer than you would expect.

Gordon coach Darren Coleman said he was wary of the team that Souths named that did not have Waratah Tetera Faulkner in it.

“They will have Tetera Faulkner in there at either tight head or loose head,” Coleman said.

“It will be the best scrummaging front-row we will have played against so I can’t wait to see how our forwards stand up to this challenge.

“Souths are clear in how they want to play the game. They are fit, scrummage well, maul and pick and drive well and they rely on front foot ball off their big inside centre.

“Although they played with some new starter patterns against Easts last weekend I expect them to come thru the front door again. They do it well.”

“They just don’t want us to know what scrummaging combination they will start with as they have a few options.

“It limits your ability to prepare if you don’t what personnel and scrum types will come at you.

“That’s not ideal when you are playing a top six team who have had some big wins so we’ll work hard this week on our cohesion, try to muscle up and compete on every play to stay in the game.”

Souths coach Todd Louden said his side hadn’t put their best foot forward against Eastern Suburbs last weekend.

“We’ve been knocked around from injuries and barely been able to train this. Then on top of all that the Harry McLennan situation has really hit the club hard,” Louden said.

“The approach this week has been all about ourselves and putting up a performance to be proud of against Gordon.

“As I have said we are a young group and haven’t really got our head around other sides getting themselves up to play against which is something that hasn’t happened for a number of years.

“That in itself is good but it’s part of the learnings that we have been getting from this season.”

GORDON (1-15):
Brandon Faavae-Eli, Robbie Abel, Sean Dillon, Jack Margin, Ola Tauelangi, Tom Silk, James Lough, Jordy Goddard (c), Harrison Goddard, Rod Iona, Ahmu Tuimalealifano, Ellis Abrahams, Joey Walton, Oli Smealie, Lucas Price.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (1-15):
Andrew Tuala, Joe Cotton, Tim Metcher, Max Freeman, Jake Douglas, Phil Potgieter, James Finch, Sama Malolo, Sam Harris, Liam Moseley, Deon Evans-Ao, Christian Kagiassis, Nathan Lawson, Daniel Bell, Brandon Finnegan.

LAST TIME: Gordon W 24-21. 29 June, 2019.

IMAGE: ADAM QUINN / GORDON RUGBY