Pirates co-coach Mick Squires believes the temporary suspension of the Central North competition could be a blessing in disguise for the injury-ravaged premiers as they prepare for the next stage of their quest for a fifth-straight title.
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The Central North Rugby Union pressed pause on the competition on Monday in the wake of the Tamworth lockdown. At this stage just for a week, it has pushed the finals back a couple of weeks, and given a few of Pirates' key weapons a bit more time to get themselves back fit and firing.
"This whole thing could be the thing that turns our season around - you can't buy time," Squires said.
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"Some of those injuries we had we needed more time."
"Someone like Andrew (Moodie)... he'd be pushing it for the minor semi (on the original date)."
Tony O'Connor and Tim Collins should also now definitely be right for the finals.
It will also give Nick McCrohan and Conrad Starr, who made their returns from injury off the bench in their last game against Quirindi, that extra recovery time.
"Both came through that game but would definitely appreciate more time," Squires said.
"The other guy is Bart (Leach). He's been working with the docs and physios and any extra time would benefit him."
The lockdown has meant they haven't been able to train this week but Squires isn't worried about that having too much of an impact - not it it's just a week or two.
"I'm very confident in probably 85 per cent of our squad; they do a lot on their own anyway," he said.
"I've also got some guys that I'm happy to have a couple of weeks off."
"For us, as long as we get a couple of weeks to prepare we'll be fine. I'm 100 per cent confident we've done the work."
His only concern is that they might potentially go into the finals having played one game in five weeks.
It is looking like they will play Walcha in what will be a blockbuster minor semi-final.
For now though it is a waiting game.
"We're on pause and as soon as we get the go button we can finish the rounds and go from there," Squires said.
"At the moment everyone has taken it as a week off."
After a hard training week last week, he said the plan had been to ease off a bit this week anyway.
