New England Rugby Round 8: Tamworth looking for repeat success against Barbarians

After a two week break for the long weekend and university holidays, they will kick their season back into action against Barbarians in Armidale on Saturday.

They currently sit third with five losses and just the one win to their name, but are in Burke's opinion "slowly building both physically and tactically".

He eluded to holding a few things back in the earlier part of the season and spoke about starting to employ a few of the tactics they have been working on behind the scenes.

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"We as a side have been playing a certain way quite deliberately," he said.

"Now I think is the time to expand our game and put into practice some of the things we been working on at training."

He added: "There's no sense in playing all your cards at once, especially in this competition".

"Your sail needs to be full at the end of the season."

"We've made the mistake before of playing our best footy early and failing at the pointing end."

Asked what he is really looking for from the Magpies on Saturday, Burke replied consistency, discipline and ensuring they do the basics well.

Conceding that "sounds like what any coach would say", they are what they have struggled with this season and are "the sorts of things we need to do to become a complete football team".

The Baa Baas are the only side they have been able to get the better of so far. But they didn't do it easy and Burke isn't expecting the return clash to be any different.

"We're expecting a much fitter, better side up there than what came down here," he said.

"We've got our work cut out for us."

He is particularly bracing for a tough tussle in the forwards.

Blake Hartin will make his first starting appearance this season on the wing, while Adam Wallace comes into the front row for Lachie Ennis and Zac Johns at half-back for skipper Charles Kensey.

The other game will see the rivalry between St Alberts and Robb reignited.

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