WELCOME ADDITION: Joe Lasagavibau will play fullback for Hawks tomorrow.
A FEW inclusions are likely to bolster an Orange Hawks side which has been decimated by injury during the Group 10 season.
Former Dragons under 20s player Scott Rosser will start at half-back when Hawks host Lithgow at Wade Park today.
Joe Lasagavibau, who played in the halves for Hawks during the 2011 season, is back and will start in the No.1 jersey tomorrow.
Hawks captain-coach James Wynne knows Rosser will make a difference.
“Having Scott Rosser come in will really strengthen us up,” Wynne said.
Hawks have already seen the impact Lasagavibau can make after he scored two tries coming off the bench in the Orange side’s 34-22 loss to Mudgee two weeks ago.
“He’d only had two sessions with us before we played and he slotted straight in and had a great game and scored two tries,” Wynne said.
“He’ll only get better with each week we play as he gets to know our style.”
Hawks might be at the bottom of the competition ladder, but Wynne believes the break during the long weekend will only benefit his side.
“Having the week off has definitely helped us,” he said.
“We’ve had a few blokes who were the walking wounded. We’re slowly getting guys back one-by-one.
“We’re still a few weeks off getting Todd Barrow back and it will be a month or more before Glen Bunworth can play again.”
Tomorrow’s match against Lithgow, who are second on the ladder, will be a serious test for Hawks.
“At the moment, every game has been tough so far. There are no easy games in the Group,” Wynne said.
“Lithgow are one of the stronger sides so we’ll have to play well.
“I expect a tough game. I’ve heard they’re a physical side and they’ve got strong forwards.
“I’m looking forward to it. It should be a great game.”
After the weekend off and some solid training sessions this week, Wynne is hopeful his team can make the most of the home ground advantage.
“We’ve got two home games in a row so we might be able to get some momentum,” he said.
“If we have a good game this week and win we can build on that.”
Hawks will host in the following round.
Tomorrow’s premier league match between Orange Hawks and Lithgow will kick-off at 1.45pm at Wade Park.
ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Joe Lasagavibau, 2 Alipate Veikoso, 3 Brock McGarity, 4 Jared Brodrick, 5 Jake Davis, 6 James Wynne (c), 7 Scott Rosser, 8 Anthony Redfern, 9 Lachlan Sturgeon, 10 Billy Baleilomaloma, 11 Marcus Barber, 12 Chris Anau, 13 Jason Greenhalgh.