This was meant to be the weekend when Jesse Ramien finally paired up with Bronson Xerri in one of the most exciting centre partnerships in the NRL.
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After Xerri's bombshell positive drug test rocked the NRL on Tuesday it now won't be the case.
Coonamble junior Ramien will make his third appearance for the Sharks since returning to the Shire from a stint in Newcastle when his side's season resumes on Saturday afternoon.
He'll team up with Josh Dugan in the centres following Xerri's standing down after he was found to have tested positive to several banned performance-enhancing substances, including steroids, late last year.
The Sharks failed to win either of their first two games of the season before all play was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Ramien, who has been tipped as a future Origin player previously, and his side take on Wests Tigers on Saturday at what will be an empty Bankwest Stadium.
Crowds remain barred at public events but Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'Landys stated this week he hopes to have the stands packed again from July 1.
Ramien, like many others, said he initially didn't expect members of the public back at matches any time soon.
"I was pretty surprised because I didn't think there would be any chance of crowds coming back this year but the talk of crowds coming back would be unreal, even if if it's just a few people," Ramien told reporters earlier this week.
"A few would be better than none so hopefully everyone follows the rules and hopefully we can get back to the norm."
Ramien and the Sharks lost to Melbourne in round two in a match played in an empty stadium.
It was a strange feeling for Ramien and everyone else involved, with the former Western Rams junior admitting it felt more like an intense training session at times.
There was one benefit, however.
"It was good in a sense because you probably rely on your teammates more," he said.
"You can here them talking more."
The game will be different to the one the Sharks and every other team played prior to the temporary suspension of play, with just one referee to control matches while the new six again rule means the tackle count will restart for ruck infringements.
Ramien said and his teammates will be tuning into matches on Thursday and Friday night to see how teams are handling the changes before the Sharks put their own plans into action on Saturday.
Ramien will be joined again in the Sharks starting lineup by Bathurst junior Will Kennedy, who has been named at fullback.
The clash between the Sharks and Tigers kicks off at 5.30pm.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
