Premiers Gundagai are unbeaten through the first half of the season but are definitely not resting on their laurels.
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Instead they've added another quality footballer to the side with Royce Tout returning home.
After coming through the Tigers' junior ranks, Tout spent two seasons with the Wests Tigers under 20s before two more with NSW Cup club Newtown Jets.
He's played most of the season for Glebe in the Ron Massey Cup before electing to return to his junior club.
Tout is looking forward to heading home and will come the bench in the clash with Albury at Greenfield Park on Saturday.
"My father (David) is the president and I've got a lot of good mates in Gundagai so I thought I'd take the opportunity to come back and play for my home town," Tout said.
"It will be really good and it has always been something I've wanted to do.
"Obviously the family is really involved in the club so it will be great."
The 22-year-old is completing a law degree in Sydney and will travel back to train and play for the rest of the season.
His arrival helps replace the loss of injured Tigers skipper Luke Berkrey.
Berkrey went off early in the win over Tumut in the top-of-the-table clash on Saturday due to his ongoing sternum problem.
He had two weeks off with the same problem heading into the clash and is facing a longer stint this time around.
Coach Adam Perry believes Tout will add plenty of impact off the bench.
"Particularly with Berks being injured he will fit in there nicely," Perry said.
"I think he'll complete the side with the type of footy he plays.
"He's a bit of a workhorse, pretty reliable and lets our more explosive boys get out there, give them a spell and we can rotate through those guys to give them a bit more rest."
Seb Cottam is also out after injuring his back against the Blues.
There is no timeline for his return with Rhys Smart coming into the side to tackle the Thunder.
Albury are the only team Gundagai are yet to beat, after a 28-all draw to start the season, and are also the last team to beat the Tigers after a 48-16 win at Greenfield Park in the final round last year.
The Thunder head into the clash without captain-coach Adrian Purtell but Perry expects another tough test from the fourth-placed side.
"It is always a tough game down there," he said.
"They've been pretty consistent all year so they will be tough."
Perry expects a big clash up the middle if round one is any indication.
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