Viking Matt MCormack and Pirate Geoff Keighley will battle it out tomorrow.
THEIR places on the table are assured, but that won't stop the Settlers Inn Hastings Valley Vikings and The Westport Club Port Macquarie Pirates giving it their all for the big Mid-North Coast Rugby local derby tomorrow.
It should be a bumper match between the top four sides at Oxley Oval and, if recent results go the same way, a close one.
There were three draws between the sides last season, and another this year, and Vikings coach Adam McCormack expected a similar match tomorrow.
McCormack welcomes back flanker Gil Hopley for the match. He will slot in to an already fit side.
"Everyone's fit and everyone's keen to go," he said.
"They always are [at home]."
McCormack will be wary of Pirates skipper Joel Rabbidge, along with Tim Platt.
"He [Platt] is their best attacking player," McCor mack said.
"And I played a lot of rep with Rabbidge.
"He's a very good player."
Pirates, meanwhile, will be wary of McCormack, according to coach Marc Minor.
"He's their go-to player, but we have to play the whole team," he said.
The Pirates are carrying some injuries of their own.
Winger Chris Mathieson was added to that list last weekend, when he hurt his shoulder.
"We're not sure how many weeks he'll be out for," Minor said.
Minor was sure the Vikings would be keen to put in a good showing on their home ground, and his side had to be enthusiastic, too.
"They [Vikings] get up for these games," he said.
"We have got to match them."
