Greater Northern's under-18 outfit will face what their coach Tom Learoyd-Lahrs has described as a "very complete" Northern Rivers Titans at Lismore on Saturday.
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Learoyd-Lahrs said Northern Rivers - undefeated in the Laurie Daley Cup over two years - were the "best challenge we can have".
The former Blues enforcer said his charges were "all talented kids".
"'[They] just haven't played their best football together," he said. "We've won three of our four games (including a trial win against the Western Rams) but the positive thing is we are still a mile away from our best."
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The former NRL star wants his players to show patience.
"If we can start with a bit of patience and build, we can win. We showed last week we can come back," he said.
The Tigers rebounded from a second-round loss to the Central Coast to beat the North Coast 28-26 at Port Macquarie last Sunday after trailling 20-6 at half-time.
Greater Northern sits fifth on the table ahead of the penultimate-round clash before the two-week finals.
Four Greater Northern teams will travel to Lismore.
The Tiger under-16s are winless after losing all three Andrew Johns Cup matches, while the Titans are unbeaten and in second place on the ladder.
Greater Northern's under-23s and women's tackle side will also be in action at Crozier Field.
The under-23 side includes North Tamworth trio Richard Ingram (9), Jack Patterson (13) and Mitch Sheridan (15).
All played in the Bears premiership-winning first-grade side last season and are part of a young squad that needs to aim up early against the defending country champions.
Tigers under-23 coach Aaron Watts has two "strike weapons" in centres Hamish Wolfgang (Aberdeen) and Will Nieuwenhuise (Singleton).
Watts hopes his small but mobile pack, headed by captain and prop Isaac Austin (Scone), can launch a platform for his fleet-footed backs.
GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS
Teams to play Northern Rivers Titans at Crozier Oval, Lismore on Saturday.
GNT UNDER 16s (kickoff 10am): 1 Malik Hunt (Aberdeen), 2 Lewis Hippi (North Tamworth), 3 Corben Hampstead (Singleton), 4 Hunter Marsh (Denman), 5 Matthew Jones (Aberdeen), 6 Kurt Fisher (Gunnedah), 7 Jermaine Craigie (Moree), 8 Thomas Donehue (Singleton), 9 Junuh Warden (Scone), 10 Maxwell Smith (Farrer), 11 Billy Youman (Guyra), 12 Ben Jones (Aberdeen), 13 Malakai Griffiths (Glen Innes), 14 Aidan Bermingham (Farrer), 15 Gus Smith (Narrabri), 16 Joash Boney (North Tamworth), 17 Jake Clydsdale (Scone), 18 Jack Grob (Glen Innes). Coach - Steve Haylen (Muswellbrook), assistant coach - Brad McManus (North Tamworth).
GNT UNDER 18s (kickoff 11.30am): 1 Brayden Reid (Kootingal), 2 Blair Maloney (Dungowan), 3 Jacob Sukanaivalu (Singleton), 4 Luke Smith (Denman), 5 Blair Maloney (Farrer), 6 Mitch Henderson (Kootingal), 7 Pichai Dixon (Aberdeen), 8 Mark Simon (North Tamworth), 9 Liam Ball (North Tamworth), 10 Jack Todd (Dungowan), 11 Dan Kelly (North Tamworth), 12 Jackson Shade (Singleton), 13 Kalab McMillan-Basset (Narrabri), 14 Blake Ginman (Dungowan), 15 Kobe Bone (North Tamworth), 16 Hugh Collins (Aberdeen), 17 Seb Pianko (North Tamworth), 18 Toby Taggart (Kootingal). Coach - Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (North Tamworth), assistant coach - Richard Ingram (North Tamworth).
GNT UNDER 23s (kickoff 2.15pm): 1 Steve McGrady (Tingha), 2 Brennan Cosgrove (Bingara), 3 Hamish Wolfgang (Aberdeen), 4 Will Nieuwenhuise (Singleton), 5 Brady Curry (Scone), 6 Bailey Taylor vc (Muswellbrook), 7 Scott Berry (Dungowan), 8 Isaac Austin capt (Scone), 9 Ryan Ingram (North Tamworth), 10 Lincon Smith (Gunnedah), 11 Tyler LePrince-Campbell (Aberdeen), 12 Morgan Amidy (Singleton), 13 Jack Patterson (North Tamworth), 14 Ryan Hawkshaw (Scone), 15 Mitchell Sheridan (North Tamworth), 16 Bailey Cosgrove (Bingara), 17 Fraser Evans (Denman), 18 Isaac Harris (Gunnedah). Coach: Aaron Watts (Scone), Manager: Kevin Watts (Scone).
GNT women's tackle (kickoff 1pm): 1 Hannah Rando (Murrurundi), 2 Lucy Prudden (Murrurundi), 3 Shae Pemberton, 4 Shai Blackadder (Merriwa), 5 Tanika Darcy (Werris Creek), 6 Amy Barraclough (Glen Innes), 7 Lenikki Craigie (Glen Innes), 8 Gaynor Blackadder vc (Merriwa), 9 Sarah Stewart (Gunnedah), 10 Amelia Tunamena (Glen Innes), 11 Antoinette Wenner (Narrabri), 12 Lauren Clarke Glen Innes), 13 Kate Brown (Murrurundi), 14 Caitlin Aubrey (Aberdeen), 15 Jessica Baker (Werris Creek), 16 Joan O'Leary (South West Robins), 17 Jayne Bevitt (Manilla), 18 Tobi-Lee Clough (Werris Creek). Coach: Mick Schmiedel (Tamworth), manageress Adelaide Monica (Tamworth), Trainers: Kate McCulloch (Armidale), Kim Bevistock (Aberdeen), Tash Allen (Kootingal).
