McLaren was originally named for the Eagles’ first-up clash against the Rays a fortnight ago, played as a curtain-raiser to the National Rugby Championship as Sunday’s will be, but withdrew after being called into Sydney University’s AON Uni 7s side.

While she was helping Uni to a fourth finish in the Queensland University round, the Eagles were completing a stunning, come-from-behind, 18-17 victory over the more-fancied Rays, that one coming at Concord Oval.

McLaren just missed a spot for this weekend’s final round of the sevens tournament, but admitted it’s “a win-win” because now she can don the burnt orange and black of NSW Country.

“I missed out on a spot in the Gold Coast [AON 7s] tournament but that means I get to play for Country so that was a bit of a win-win for me,” McLaren laughed.

“I’m pretty keen to meet everyone. I’m going into it a bit blind but I’m very excited to give it a crack.”

She also added it’ll be nice to be alongside Bulldogs teammates Marita Shoulder, Mandy Scott and Mel Waterford, along with CSU Bathurst’s Claire Woolmington. McDonald and West Wyalong’s Sharnah Stevens make up the rest of Central West’s Westfund Ferguson Cup contingent.

“Playing with people you know makes you more comfortable going in and can help you play more confidently because you’re aware of how they play,” McLaren said.

The Country Eagles and the Rays play at Camden Rugby Club this Sunday, with kick-off at 1.15pm.

That game acts as the curtain-raiser for the Eagles’ NRC encounter with Brisbane City, the former side is out of the finals running while the latter kept its play-off hopes alive with a win over Queensland Country last weekend.

The NRC clash kicks off at 3pm.