DUBBO Macquarie have named an extended squad for Sunday's Group 11 clash with cross-town rivals Dubbo CYMS, while Fishies coach Tim Ryan admits he will be keeping a close eye on today's Western Rams cluster trials at Apex Oval ahead of the local derby.
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The two clubs will provide a combined seven players to Darren Jackson's squad for the trials, before being asked to back up less than 24 hours later in the game both organisations look for when the Group 11 draw is released.
Five CYMS players - John Grey, Jyie Chapman, Kieran Shipp, Colby Pellow and Jarryn Powyer - will wear the red and black of Group 11 while Macquarie pair Jeremy Smith and Rowan Orcher will also be asked to play three games in the space of two days.
Fishies coach Tim Ryan said having a quintet involved in a pair of representative fixtures and then backing up isn't ideal but admitted he was hopeful of being able to carry the same group of 17 players that he used against Forbes last Friday night.
"We've named the same squad as last week. I think last week was actually the first game where we have had no injuries, which was good," he said.
"I will be up there watching on Saturday to see how the boys come through the games but realistically we won't know until Sunday morning when they pull up, who will play and who won't."
Adding to the uncertainty of the week for Ryan is the fact his wife Alissa is due to give birth to their third child any day now.
"The baby is due on May 6 but the first two were both born early so we're on alert now that it could happen at any time," he said.
"Who knows, I might not see any football at all this weekend.
"If that's the case I'm pretty well off because 'Jenko' (Luke Jenkins) is still out injured and Wayne Sing is around as well so I've got guys that know our plans and structures that can run things for me."
Last year's premiers, the Fishies remain unbeaten through the first three weeks of the 2015 competition while the Raiders have a 50/50 record after enjoying a bye in round one.
CYMS head into the contest on the back of a 26-14 win over Forbes last Friday night, while Ryan is wary of a Macquarie outfit looking to bounce back from a 44-30 loss at the hands of Wellington.
"CYMS and Macquarie are always hard-fought games and it doesn't matter where the teams are on the ladder," Ryan said.
"Macquarie always lift to play us and coming off a loss last week that will fire them up even more.
"They have a pretty good team so we have to go and do all the little things right, just like we need to every week."
