Central North Rugby Round 9: Pirates looking to finish first round on winning note

On Saturday his Pirates side will be looking to cement their place in the top four heading into the second round when they host Inverell.

He will then be back at Ken Chillingworth Oval on Sunday morning as the Central North opens side train ahead of next weekend's Country Championships.

Taking on the Kookaburras coaching job this season, Squires said it has been an "interesting challenge" so far.

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"We've probably picked seven different squads," he said.

"Fingers crossed every gets through Saturday's games."

That is his first order of business. Pirates go in level with the Highlanders on points but edge them for fourth on bonus points.

"It's a big game for us," Squires said.

"We can finish the first round in fourth (or fifth), or depending on other results third.

"I think we'd class that as a pretty successful first round for us."

They have lost Brendan Rixon for anywhere from a month to 12 weeks after he did his MCL against Quirindi last round but welcome back Mitch Dening. He hasn't played since injuring his hamstring in the loss to Gunnedah and will come in for Rixon at inside centre.

The only other change is Andrew Collins and Bart Leach swapping starting and bench roles up front - Collins will start and Leach come off the bench, with the bye allowing Nick McCrohan to get over his ankle sprain.

Squires said the players are eager to get back into it after the bye.

"They're just keen to keep the momentum going from the last couple of performances," he said.

"We're really starting to play some good footy."

He said they "got a couple of good fitness blocks in" over the break.

It was also a good chance to work on "a few defensive things" they "got caught out a bit with" against the Lions. Squire noted there were times where they gave up on the ball after it went past them, with the Lions able to cause a few problems turning the ball back inside.

He also spoke about when they make an error, letting it go. Against the Lions, and in their losses earlier in the season, they have been guilty of when things haven't gone their way it's "put us on the wrong path for about 10 minutes".

The Highlanders are coming off their biggest-ever win over Moree and shape to be Pirates biggest test for a few weeks.

"They look like they've got some strike power outwide and have got a good honest pack of forwards," Squires said.

But if they can get their share of the ball and the set piece continues to be strong, he said, they are confident they'll give themselves a good chance to win.

There will only be first and second grade after Inverell forfeited the women's clash.

It means Pirates are assured of finishing the first round on top of the table.

In the other games Gunnedah host Moree, Barraba are at home to Narrabri and Scone travel to Quirindi.

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