SATURDAY'S Western Division trial between Group 11 and Group 10 at Apex Oval is looming as a battle between brains and brawn, with Group 11 selectors opting for a smaller side than their eastern counterparts.
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An 18-man squad was unveiled on Monday after selectors culled the initial 24-man group put together last month, with injury conspiring against Group 11 in the forward pack.
Props Chris Thompson and Ainsley Coxsedge were both ruled out, forcing Troy Hayman to shift from the back-row to prop, where he will join Parkes' Dave Masoe.
Hayman and Masoe will have their job cut out for them if rumours circulating around the make-up of the Group 10 squad are true.
"I've heard they're going big with two props in the second-row as well as their actual front rowers and another two on the bench," Jackson said. "Hopefully our agility and fitness will be something we can use in our favour because they will be keen to have the match played slow and up the middle."
Dubbo Macquarie's Jeremy Smith beat Parkes' Tino Ionatana for the hooking role, with coach Darren Jackson keen to experiment with how he uses the pair.
"I think 'Squeak' (Smith) is more your traditional hooker where Tino is a bit of a power runner and I think having those guys both in the squad is a big bonus for us," Jackson said.
"I'd like to think we can have them both on the field at the same time as Tino could double up as a second-rower if need be."
Nyngan's Jacob Neill will partner the evergreen Dennis Moran in the halves, with Jackson amazed at the youngster's football nous.
"Jacob has been away at the Dragons for a couple of years and now he's back but you can tell he's learned a lot down there," Jackson said.
"He seems to have a very smart football brain, and reminds me of how people describe Cameron Smith with the way he just understands the game."
The clash between Group 11 and Group 10 will kick off at 3.10pm on Saturday.
GROUP 11
1. Kieran Shipp (Dubbo CYMS), 2. Aidan Ryan (Wellington Cowboys), 3. Jyie Chapman (Dubbo CYMS), 4. Chris Daley (Dubbo Macquarie), 5. Evi Niako (Parkes Spacemen), 6. Jacob Neill (Nyngan Tigers), 7. Dennis Moran (Parkes Spacemen), 8. David Masoe (Parkes Spacemen), 9. Jeremy Smith (Dubbo Macquarie), 10. Troy Hayman (Cobar Roosters), 11. Justin Toomey-White (Wellington Cowboys), 12. Braydon Peachey (Dubbo CYMS), 13. Epi Sadrodro (Parkes Spacemen). Interchange: 14. Jordan Pope (Parkes Spacemen), 15. Ionatana Tino (Parkes Spacemen), 16. Dylan Hill (Dubbo Macquarie), 17. Alex Sambrook (Narromine Jets), 18. Craig Ticehurst (Nyngan Tigers)
