Pieper is among a number of notable ins for both teams at Victoria Park, alongside TRYC captain Mitch Stephenson, EWK's former captain Ben Absolum, fellow premiership player Luke Cuthbert and gun recruit Alex Rogers.

At 40, Pieper will playing his 208^th first grade game for the Magpies, almost two years after game number 207, with co-coaches Brad Aiken and Heath Russell keen on his experience.

Pieper's "just happy to play a role if I can help out" but is aware of the big occasion, and thrilled to see the 'Pies re-emerge as a genuine contender.

"It's been really good," Pieper said.

"Brad and Rusty have got the boys playing a good style that they're buying in to. It is enjoyable, and it's pleasing from a club point-of-view that we're competitive and in with a show.

"Having the young and experienced guys from Canberra has been really good, and good blokes too, getting along with everyone," Pieper said, acknowledging not only the individual efforts of the Riley Budd, Dean Biermann, Joe Hancock and Joey Kerin, but the impact they're having on lifting teammates.

Pieper had been limited to 23 senior games across 2018 and 2019 and has been lapping up the football in the seconds this year after the turmoil then time off in 2020.

"I'm just enjoying it. It's been good to be able to be at training a bit more this year, not working away as often," he said.

"I'm always excited to play."

Injured midfielder Cooper Diessel is still out for the 'Pies, Zac Brain has returned to the Ovens and Murray League and Shannon Williams is unavailable for the Pies.

As for the Hawks, their big ins are unfortunately matched by key outs, continuing a theme of 2021.

The consistent Ethan Andrews and Kade Rowbotham have joined Kieren McCarthy as casualties out of their win over CSU, offsetting the returns of Absolum, Cuthbert and Rogers.

"It's one of those years," EWK coach Matt Hard said.

Cuthbert and Rogers were only out for a week but Absolum, their own 2016 premiership-winning skipper, returns from his second hamstring injury.

"Looking forward to seeing Ben have a run around. He's done the work and he brings a lot of experience to us so we're glad," Hard said.

For all the frustrations of struggling to get a settled side, Hard isn't backing away from the importance of the game at The Rock, particularly as the Magpies were convincing winners in round one.

"Definitely. We're both six-and-two, along with North Wagga and you don't want to lose touch," Hard said.

"This week's a big game for us, they obviously stitched us up last time. They were too good and we know we need to play a lot better than we've playing so it'll be a very interesting day at Victoria Park."

Hard said the 'Pies flying starts can hurt and the Hawks are wary of the way TRYC can move the ball if given the opportunity.

"I think a lot of the competition might have understimated but hopefully the second time around we can be a bit wiser, a bit smarter and tougher in and around the footy," he said.

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