Using rugby league as a stimulation, Fitzhenry is striving to give Aboriginal youth in the city an opportunity to gain a better education and increased self-esteem.

In a breakthrough for the Riverina, Fitzhenry this week started working with the Clontarf Foundation, a group that aims to assist teenagers "achieve better life outcomes".

Fitzhenry, who is based at Mt Austin High School, yesterday revealed a "rugby league academy" with a significant difference had been developed at the suburban school .

"We just work to encourage them (students) to attend school and to be prepared for life after school," Fitzhenry said.

"I've only been up here a few days but I'm already finding it very rewarding."

Under the program, students must improve their school attendance record to be able to part part in the rugby league academy activities.

Fitzhenry said giving young Aboriginals a motivation to go to school, and study, was vitally important.

"There's so much more to it than just rugby league," he said.

With a headquarters in Perth, the Clontarf Foundation launched its first "academy" in 2000 with 25 Indigenous teenagers.

The organisation now involves 2800 boys across 54 schools in WA, Northern Territory, Victoria and NSW.

At a time when his working life has taken a dramatic new direction, Fitzhenry remains committed to giving Southcity a shot at ending the Group Nine domination of Albury.

Fresh from a week off with a minor groin injury, Fitzhenry is adamant he will definitely play against Cootamundra in a Group Nine blockbuster at Harris Park on Sunday.

The Bulls coach, however, is far less optimistic about the chances of gun second rower Nick Skinner tackling the fourth-placed Bulldogs.

"He's (Skinner) probably not going to be there," Fitzhenry said.

"Reg Snowden is also out for a while ... he was operated on on Saturday morning."

Snowden is recovering from surgery on a broken shoulder, while Skinner is sidelined with a shoulder dislocation.

With two key forwards missing, Fitzhenry says Cootamundra looms as a major threat to second-placed Southcity.

"They beat is us the first time we played them," he said.

"They're a big physical side and they'll try to bash us."

Fitzhenry believes the Bulldogs will be desperate for redemption after failing against Gundagai last weekend.

"We're confident but we also need to pay them respect," he said.

"They're coming off an embarrassing (48-22) loss."

The prospect of a wet ground on Sunday is also a concern, Fitzhenry says.

"That'll tighten the game right up," he said.

BULLS v BULLDOGS

When: 2.30pm Sunday

Where: Harris Park