The Cessnock Goannas and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs will both be hoping to bounce back after tough losses last weekend.
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The Goannas went down to the Pickers 39-16 at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday, while Kurri Kurri was defeated by South Newcastle 19-6 at Townson Oval on Sunday.
The Goannas led 16-10 at half-time after tries to Sam Clune, Hayden Regan and Tyrone Nean, but Maitland produced a dominant 40 minutes - with 29 unanswered points and a shutout in the second half - to finish over the top.
The loss leaves Cessnock on six competition points, joined by Macquarie, Wyong, Souths and Central in a five-way share of second spot after a disjointed opening six rounds that has had several fixtures washed out.
Kurri Kurri and Souths were locked at 6-all midway through the second half, before Lions five-eighth Ryan Glanville made a match-changing impact, stepping through for his own try and producing a banana-kick assist for another within the space of five minutes.
He was later sent to the sin bin, and Lions halfback Sam Elwin slotted a field goal from short range to ice the result in the closing stages.
Kurri was left with a reduced bench after losing centre Blake Carroll (shoulder), prop Dan Melmouth (HIA) and five-eighth Jimmy Smith (back) during the second half.
"It's not ideal. All the injuries we've had, changing the team every week and with a squad of new players makes it hard," Kurri coach Aaron Watts said.
"Our effort is there but our execution isn't really good enough."
The Bulldogs are hoping to finally get onto the field at Kurri Kurri Sportsground this Saturday, after a massive volunteer effort to repair the ground from recent flood damage.
"There's still a lot of work to do, but we should get there," Bulldogs assistant secretary Bob Wilesmith said.
"The community effort has been amazing, they haven't stopped."
If all goes to plan, the Bulldogs will play Maitland at Kurri at 3pm Saturday.
Cessnock takes on Wyong at Morry Breen Oval, also at 3pm Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cessnock trio Anthony Meleisea-Murray, Harry O'Brien and Jayden Young have been selected in the Newcastle Rebels representative squad.
The Rebels will clash with Canberra in the nation's capital on May 14.
A second representative fixture between Newcastle and Illawarra has yet to be confirmed, but is aimed towards Maitland Sportsground on the June long weekend.
LADDER: Maitland 12; Macquarie, Wyong, Souths, Central, Cessnock 6; The Entrance 4; Kurri, Lakes 2; Wests 0.
