The Dubbo Kangaroos face the biggest challenge in local rugby today as they travel to Orange to take on two-time defending premiers, Orange City Lions.
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The Lions haven't tasted defeat in over two years but with a number of their regulars missing, the 'Roos will feel this is their best opportunity in recent times to knock the champions of their perch.
Orange City needed a miraculous injury-time try to defeat Parkes in the grand final rematch last saturday while the Kangaroos are coming off a thrilling win of their own, as Filisione Pauta's late try sealed a hard foughty win over Narromine in round one.
After filling in at inside centre last weekend, Central West representative Brad Pugh returns to his favoured flanker position while James Mata and Max Ma'a Nelson make their first top-grade start for the season after turning out for the reserves last weekend.
After missing the majority of the pre-season, Mata was instrumental in the second grade win last week while new signing Nelson showed some of the form that saw him selected in the Newcastle squad for the Country Championships in recent seasons and will be one to watch as he lines up in the centres alongside Pauta.
First grade kick off at 3pm at Pride Park.
o FIRST GRADE
DUBBO KANGAROOS: 1 Enoch To'Ofohe, 2 Pete Nau (c), 3 Tim Cullenward, 4 John Korff, 5 Simon Hegarty, 6 Brad Pugh, 7 Ned Williams, 8 Shaun McHugh, 9 Wade Richardson, 10 Ted Bates, 11 James Mata, 12 Max Ma'a Nelson, 13 Filisone Pauta, 14 Vince Williams, 15 Scott Burgess
ORANGE CITY: 1 Scott Smith, 2 Chris Senior, 3 Josh Tremain, 4, Chris Barrett, 5 Josh Maley, 6 Steve Levitt, 7 Billy Freeman, 8 Duncan Young, 9 Tom Nell, 10 Mesui Lemoto, 11 Cameron Cole, 12 Tatafu Na'aniumotu, 13 Jackson Coote, 14 Joe Alexander, 15 Sam Dwyer.
SECOND GRADE
Dubbo Kangaroos: 1 Josh Sinisa, 2 Lachy Simpson, 3 Peter Graham, 4 Jim Elliott, 5 James Gilmour, 6. DJ O'Shea, 7 Peter Parkes, 8 Sam Rennerberg, 9 Bryce Williamson, 10 Niklas Moore, 11 Tim Symonds, 12 Mitch Gersbach, 13 Jason Coyle, 14 John Vaitaiki, 15 Josh Dodd.
THIRD GRADE
Dubbo Kangaroos: Josh Loxley, James Barker, Pip Randell, Damian Pearce, James Skuthorpe, Reuben Williams, Dan Carolan, Lee Toohey, John O'Neill, Mal Donald, Kori West, Dean Matthews, Angus Irving, Sam Williams, Andrew Robinson, David Lenehan, Gerald Webster
