Yanco-Wamoon will make the trip down Irrigation Way on Saturday, looking to make the most of fresher legs when they take on the Black and Whites.
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The Hawks first grade had the bye with their reserve grade and league tag sides taking on Hay, and co-coach Kane Hammond said this presented the club with a great chance to get some more game time into the legs of the first graders.
"The majority of the first-grade squad played, but they only played minimal minutes just to work on a bit of match fitness and few little areas that we have been concentrating on," he said.
"It has worked out really well because everyone was able to get a bit more match fitness and a bit more game-related time but also able to have a bit of a rest as well.
"We have had a week where we have been able to just rest a few niggling injuries. We had that week off to freshen up a little bit which is always nice."
The Hawks were able to pick up a positive result from the reserves clash, taking a 38-16 victory over the Magpies.
The Yanco side was able to open their account with a win over the Sharks before having the first-grade bye last weekend after a tough start to the season against Waratahs.
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The task won't be easy on this weekend when they take on a Black and Whites side who have really hit their straps with wins over Waratahs and Darlington Point Coleambally after falling to ladder leaders Leeton in the opening round.
The firepower from the Panthers has come from the ability of their big centres, who are able to send the pacey wingers down the sideline, which was highlighted in their win over Waratahs, so the Hawks will have to be aware that threat.
"They were coming off a really good win last week, so I'm expecting a really tough game and a big challenge for us, I think," he said.
"We have to be able to complete well, and our forwards are going to have to look to hold them in the middle. If we can do that, it is going to go a long way to helping us win."
Getting to the end of their sets is something the Hawks have been working on in the fortnight in between matches.
"We have just really been working on our completion," he said.
"We really want to be aiming to complete at around 80 per cent, and that is one of the areas that we have really been focusing hard on."
Heading into the clash, Hammond is expecting almost all of his squad to be available.
"Braiden Ingram suffered a cut to his head last week, so he is probably 50-50, but everyone else should be on deck," he said.
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