Last week’s loss to CSU left Aggies in seventh place, with four clubs only separated by two points.

Coach Nick McCarthy isn’t too concerned with where his team is placed with another five games before the split, he’s more worried about being the first team to crack the Steamers this year.

“You’ve almost got to be perfect in every aspect against Albury,” McCarthy said.

Albury will unveil new South African recruit Lex Botha on Saturday, but McCarthy is more concerned with playmaker Richard Manion.

Manion has moved to inside centre this year, with Blake Le Cornu coming into five-eighth, but the first year coach doesn’t think that limits any of his impact.

“They’ve got threats right across the park and obviously Richard Manion is a cut above in this competition,” McCarthy said.

“I think shutting him down in obviously the key, but also shutting down the avenues to him.

“We need to put pressure on their pack, slow them down a bit, move them backwards and as a result it puts pressure on their halfback and as a result make it harder for him to get on the front foot.”

McCarthy thought the club had an off-day and thought the team let the emotion of taking on fierce rivals get the better of them.

“We went away from our game plan and when we went away from our game plan our execution went away as well and we defended quite poorly,” he said.

Ag College has made a number of changes following the loss to CSU with Chris Leaper coming back in from a concussion.

Leaper replaces the unavailable Ollie Connell and flanker with Tom Macleay pushing up into the second row, while McCarthy has made a plethora of changes to the back line.

James Grimmett will miss the next two weeks with a rib cartilage injury, Keifer Power is out with a knee injury with Andrew Manna, Mackenzie Lawrence and Max Woods.

Grimmett injured his ribs against Temora and struggled against CSU last week.

“He’s got some cartilage damage and his sternum keeps spasming so when he tries to run his tightens right up as his chest goes all weird,” McCarthy said.

“He’s not feeling any pain, but he can't keep his lungs full of air.”