By MARK CASHMAN

Sydney Uni coach Michael Hodge believes that they will take a far more disciplined Northern Suburbs side when the Shute Shield finals series kicks off on Saturday.

When these two teams met in Round 12 at Camperdown, referee Amy Perrett went to the pocket three times as Norths copped yellow cards and were bashed up well and truly at scrum time.

That meant that Norths were short handed for 30 minutes of that October 3 clash and it’s something that is unlikely to happen this time around.

Both teams look very similar to the ones that ran out on October 3 with Uni going with the same Super Rugby standard front row and welcoming the return of Josh Kemeny to their back row after he sat out their last round win over the Two Blues.

“Whilst both teams are very similar on paper, we’re expecting a more disciplined Norths side from our round 12 clash,” Hodge said.

“We’ve been building nicely over the last three weeks and will need to be at our best as we take on the expansive and well-drilled Northern Suburbs.

“They’ll be comfortable, playing out of Rat Park this season, and I dare say may have the crowd on their side.

“We’ll certainly be trying to stamp our ascendancy up front, but it’ll be a much more free flowing match than the first time around.”

Norths, with North Sydney Oval out of bounds during the pandemic, have played out of Rat Park and have won all their games bar the one against Warringah last weekend.

Norths have brought German Haeffeli back into their front row for this game and Heinrich Brendel will again have a major presence in the back row.

Cam Clark is again missing from the Norths backline after his head knock in Round 12 and Kepu Lokotui will again step up.

But as Norths coach Earl Va’a has said the key to the game is making sure that they lock down their scrum and play some footy.

“We’re going to need to be disciplined and keep 15 on the field for the full 80 minutes,” coach Va’a said.

“That said we are going to have to compete well at scrum time. We want to deliver good ball to our backs on our feed and have a crack at disrupting their possession on their feed.

“That’s going to be story of this game for sure.

“Training has gone well this week and the players know that it’s do or die and everyone is fighting to stay alive for another week.”

NORTHERN SUBURBS (1-15):

German Haeffeli, James Margan, Dewald Dekker, Dave Henaway, Declan Carroll, Brad Hemopo, Heinrich Brendel, Hugh Sinclair, Nick Duffy, Angus Sinclair, Reece Mau’u, Harry Burey, Nathan Russell, Kepu Lokotui, Max Burey.

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.

IMAGE: AJF PHOTOGRAPHY