Norths and Gordon will meet at North Sydney Oval in the first of two North Shore local derbies scheduled at the backend of the Shute Shield regular season.

Elsewhere, Hunter, Southern Districts and West Harbour will look to upset sides above them on the ladder to boost their playoff hopes.

Northern Suburbs v Gordon 

Norths coach Zak Beer has name an unchanged team to face Gordon in Saturday’s local derby at North Sydney Oval. 

Gordon welcome back Joey Walton from the Waratahs for the first time this season, while Pres Tufuga and Ben Pollack return at No.8 and flyhalf respectively, with Will Kaye also set to start at fullback. 

Northern Suburbs (1-15)

George Thornton, James Margan, Brady Dawson, Saxon Gillies, Tom Smith, Ed Timpson, Charlie Jeavons-Fellows, Luke Gersekowski, Roan Frostwick, Jude Gibbs, Carrick McDonough, Harry Burey, Henry O’Donnell, Luke Ryan, Matt Ryan.

Gordon (1-15)

Liam Usher, Jay Fonokalafi, Tristan Fuli, Jack Margin, John Akau’ola-Laula, Cameron Wood, Milan Basson, Presley Tufuga, Harry Emery, Ben Pollack, Brandon Quinn, Joey Walton, James Armstrong, Oliver Arcus, Will Kaye.

Manly v Hunter

Manly coach Chris DeLooze has added some extra class to his side for the run towards the finals. 

Former Newcastle Falcons forward Connor Collet has been named to start at openside flanker and former Munster and Harlequins No.9 Jack Stafford has been named at scrumhalf for the clash against Hunter. 

Elsewhere, Hugo Patterson will start at hooker and Robbie McIntosh returns to the starting side in the centres.  

Hunter coach Scott Coleman has made a number of changes to his side after they fell asleep in the last 20 minutes of their 34-10 loss to Norths. 

Spanish lock Imanol Urraza will make his Shute Shield debut, with Blake Howle also set to start at hooker. In the backs, Canberra flyhalf Jack Evenden still start in the No.10 jersey. Ethan Morgan shifts back to fullback while Nate DeThierry shifts forward to the centres. 

Manly (1-15)

Neori Nadruku, Hugo Patterson, Maka Mafileo, Justin Mataele, Rory Bartle, Hunter Ward, Connor Collet, Mali Manukia, Ben Gleeson, Jack Stafford, Brendan Owen, Fraser Toohey, Robbie McIntosh, Byron Sharwood, Wilson Dulieu, Ollie Horne. 

Hunter (1-15)

Bo Abra, Blake Howle, Sam Tufuga, Imanol Urraza, Rob Puli’uvea, Elyjah Crosswell, Donny Freeman, Tiueti Asi, Nick Murray, Jack Evenden, Veni Vahai, Nathan deThierry, Thomas Watson, Frankie Nowell, Ethan Morgan.

Eastwood v Randwick

Eastwood will be without two of the form players of the competition in flanker Harry Turner and outside back James McGregor for their clash against the defending premiers. 

Elsewhere, Dave Telfer has named a new look front row with Iain Carmichael, Lachlan Frean and Matt Johnson combining up front. Aidan King will also start at lock. 

In the backs, Blaise Barnes will start at fullback with Lucas Vass shifting to the wing.  

Randwick have made just one change to the side that put a score on Southern Districts with Jamie Rickward to start at lock.

Eastwood (1-15)

Iain Carmichael, Lachlan Frean, Matt Johnson, Jack Parsons, Aidan King, Ratu Tuisese, Ben Dalton, Tim Anstee, Tom Goddard, Tane Edmed, Lucas Vass, Michael Stringer, Reece Tapine, JL Bacon, Blaise Barnes.

Randwick (1-15)

Olly Adkins, Ben Sugars, Hunter Stewart, Mick Melia, Jamie Rickward, Joel Ellis, Matt Stead, Ben Houston, Tim Sippel, Andrew Deegan, Joe Browning, Zac Carr, Jayden Blake, Christian Yassmin, James Hendren.

Southern Districts v Eastern Suburbs

After playing from the bench in last week’s loss to Randwick, Jed Holloway will start for the Rebels at Forshaw against Easts. James Douglas returns in the No.2 jersey while Tuitavake Manoa replaces Jake Douglas in the second row. 

Easts welcome back Will Harris from the Western Force. The former Tahs backrower will start at No.6.

In the backs, promising 21-year old Ed Arnott will start at inside centre alongside Joel Cobb. 

Southern Districts (1-15)

Isaac Clark, James Douglas, Kyle Devine, Phil Potgieter, Tuitavake Manoa, Kaylam Tytherleigh, Alan Fitzgerald, Jed Holloway, Liam Blyde, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Oscar Schmidt-Uili, Lumafale Lualua, Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Declan Mulcahy, Rihari Wilson.

Eastern Suburbs (1-15)

Lewis Ponini, Moli Sooaemalelagi, Vunipola Fifita, Josh Bokser, Fergus Lee-Warner, Will Harris, Archie Gavin, George Gibson, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Calum Randle, Ed Arnott, Joel Cobb, Cooper Whiteside, Luke Glen.

Sydney Uni v Western Sydney

After falling just short against Eastwood last week, Uni return home to face the Two Blues. Luke Ratcliff returns at lock for the Students, while in the backs George Poolman is back from the Force and Sam Bignold is back from injury. Both will start in the back three. 

The Two Blues also fell just short last week against competition leaders Warringah. They welcome back lock Johnny Kawau who has returned from a stint in Italy. The remainder of the side is unchanged. 

Sydney Uni (1-15)

George Patten, Ciaran Loh, Brad Amituanai, Luke Ratcliff, Ilan Evans, Angus Allen, Sam Allsopp, Jack McCalman, Henry Robertson, Joey Fowler, James Kane, Eddie Poolman, Henry Clunies – Ross, George Poolman, Sam Bignold. 

Western Sydney (1-15)

Kaynan Siteine Tua, David Meki, Airi Hunt, Johnny Kawau, Dan Faleafa, Marcel Faaofo, Ethan Staddon, Tovo Faleafa, Rilloy Suesue, Reece Suesue, Tailiki Nadredre, Abel Magalogo, Nik Vikena, Diego Papas, Sitiveni Moceidreke.

Warringah v West Harbour

Warringah were forced to earn their points against Western Sydney at Granville last week. Coach Josh Holmes has welcomed back Wayne Borsak at prop and Jayden Pearce at No.13 to his starting side in the only two changes. 

Coaching against his former club, Cam Treloar has named a new look Pirates side to travel to Rat Park. Dion Spice returns at scrumhalf and Scottish recruit Scott King will start at outside centre. 

In the forwards, Rob Donovan (prop), Jordan Brown (lock), Will McDonald (flanker) and Otto-Louis Wendt (No.8) will all start in a match the Pirates must win to keep their finals hopes alive. 

Warringah (1-15)

Tonga Tangitau, Wes Thomas, Wayne Borsak, Sam Thomson, Dane Terekia, Charlie McKill, Zac Barnabas, Chlayton Frans, Ben Fuhiniu, Coby Miln, Harvey Elms, Tyson Davis, Jayden Pearce, Esera Chee Kam, Ben Marr. 

West Harbour (1-15)

Oisin Michel, Albert Alcock, Rob O’Donovan, Liam Lord, Jordan Brown, Will McDonald, Theo Tanda, Otto-Louis Wendt, Dion Spice, James Faiva, Senijiale Dawai, Scott King, Enari Kilifi, Matthew Whelan, Hunter Hannaford.