Tumut out to spoil party in Maher Cup clash

The ladder leaders will be without two of their wing options, the suspended Fetongi Tuinauvai and Josh Webb, but with the return of Jed Pearce and Lewis Arragon to their forward pack the Blues are out to continue their charge.

Tuinauvai will miss their next five games despite being cleared of a grade three striking charge by the Group Nine judiciary on Wednesday night.

In just his second game back from a 10-game ban, Tuinauvai was subsequently charged with running a distance to get involved in an altercation in the win over Brothers last week.

He pled guilty to the charge and with his poor record was handed a five-game.

Billy Bridgeman gets his chance to impress on the wing in the grand final rematch.

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For the second time this season the two clubs will play off for the Maher Cup.

Gundagai have their centenary celebrations to follow on from the game with the Blues out to spoil the party.

After taking a big win over their rivals to start the season, co-coach Lachlan Bristow is looking to ensure they can back it up."

"We know what to expect from these big games now, we've had a fair few of them over the last couple of years, but attitude is big," Bristow said.

"We can't be focusing on the ladder or anything like that as we're playing over there and it's a big occasion with the Maher Cup.

"We have to be up for it.

"They will have a fair crowd but I don't think that really worries us and we've beaten them over there before.

"We beat them there last year and I'm confident we can go over there and do the same thing."

Mitch Ivill and Tolo Aroha-Tuinauvai both picked up leg issues in the 45-4 win over Brothers last week.

However both are expected to tackle the Tigers.

"We're obviously missing Fetongi but we have a good replacement in Billy, who has been playing some good footy and we're keen to give him a crack," Bristow said.

"We're close to full strength.

"Touch wood, we've been pretty lucky this year through injury so to pretty much have a full strength side heading into this clash is awesome."

Meanwhile Brothers forward Warren Lloyd will miss the clash with former club Kangaroos on Saturday after almost being banned by the judiciary on Wednesday.

Lloyd was also cleared of a striking charge but found guilty of running a distance to get involved in an altercation.

He will miss two games.