Reigning Weissel Medalist Brett Eccleston and captain-coach James Smart are two big omissions from Gundagai’s team for the West Wyalong Knockout.
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Gundagai will tackle Group 20 club Leeton in the opening round on Friday without two of its biggest names.
Smart is still recovering from ankle surgery while Eccleston has undergone a hernia operation.
Despite not being fit for the weekend, Smart is confident both will right for the start of the Group Nine premiership.
The Tigers are looking to go one better this season, after failing to claim back-to-back titles with a grand final loss to
Smart is happy with how things are coming together both with the team and with his recovery.
“I'm probably a few weeks off,” Smart said.
“I’ve haven’t been given clearance for full contact or anything like that and am taking it slow.
“The trial against Woden on March 18 looks positive.”
The Tigers are taking a “wait and see” approach with Eccleston.
“He’s going to start running next week,” Smart said.
Despite missing some of their stars, the Knockout will be an opportunity for a number of new recruits to pull on a Tigers jumper for the first time.
Noa Fotu will line up against him junior club while Luke Berkrey has been named in the second row for his first game since moving back to Group Nine.
The Tigers have also been forced to make a late change to the team after Mark Elphick tore his quadriceps at training on Monday night.
His place in the team has been taken by Blake Dunn.
Gundagai are out to defend their title after tasting success in a rare visit to the Knockout last year.
Smart wants to ensure his team doesn’t feel pressure to score quickly in the shortened format, an approach that paid dividends last season.
He believes the tournament is perfectly timed for the pre-season preparation of the Tigers.
Smart is also preparing to play without representative winger Phil Latu for the entire season.
Latu tore his patella tendon during the first week of the final series before undergoing surgery and the Tigers want to give him plenty of time to come good.
GUNDAGAI: Dane O’Hehir, Joseph Rose, Noa Fotu, Damian Willis, Dylan Cole, Tyron Gorman, Chris Rose, Vince Brown, James Luff, Kieran Pearce, Cameron Woo, Luke Berkrey, Brock Dunn, Blake Dunn, Matt Henery, Will Herring
