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CENTRAL West's five NSW Country Cockatoos are ready to shape up to Queensland Country in tomorrow's Australian Rugby Shield semi-final at No1 Oval in Dubbo.

The Wesfarmers Landmark Cockatoos are working towards their third successive Shield success and assistant coach Greg Horton predicts the local boys will make a big impression.

Horton knows his players well, having coming back to the Dubbo Kangaroos this year to share the coaching duties with captain Geoff Koerstz, himself a former Country player for many years.

Andrew Breen (Bathurst Bulldogs) and Simon Fleetwood (Cowra) will play at hooker and prop while the free-flowing backs have benefited by the speed and deception of five-eighth Mark Daley (Emus), winger Nick Granger (CSU) and fullback Tony Gowing from Mudgee.

Forward Matt Waterford (Bulldogs) is on the bench.

"All the Central West guys have played well this season and hopefully will continue that role again in the semi-final," Horton said.

"Central West's form at Country Week over the past couple of years has served us well with Cockatoos selection.

Horton said one player who had been a standout was Gowing, who played off the bench in last year's Cockatoos lineup.

"He is the leading tryscorer in the Shield with eight. He makes the most of the opportunities that come his way and is very quick and deceptive."

The Cockatoos beat Queensland 29-23 in their preliminary round earlier this year and expect another hard game tomorrow.

In a Shield series dominated by Perth and Melbourne this season, the Cockatoos haven't played consistently.

But all that changed last weekend in the final preliminary round.

In a stunning form reversal at Port Macquarie the Cockatoos came out and thumped Adelaide Black Falcons 48-7 with their open style of play an eye catching feature.

"We want to continue that style of play," Horton said yesterday.

"There was some positive defensive work by the forwards over long periods and when they got on top the backs did the rest.

"The win was set up in the forwards and when Mark Daly and his inside centre Adam Carlisle took the ball to the line, they created plenty of opportunities for the fast outside backs.

"When we get to training tomorrow in Dubbo we will be working on ways to win our sets of scrums and line outs, work together as a unit and then use our backs to the fullest advantage."

NSW COUNTRY: 1 Jon Runchel (Maitland), 2 Andrew Breen (Bathurst), 3 Simon Fleetwood (Cowra), 4 Anthony Kaberry (Moree), 5 Hugh McAlister (Young), 6 Emile Thomas (Avoca Beach), 7 Darren Dimmock (capt, Maitland), 8 Ben Sadgrove (Terrigal), 9 Dave Wood (Narrabri), 10 Mark Daly (Orange Emus), 11 Nick Granger (CSU Bathurst), 12 Adam Carlisle (Gosford), 13 Anthony Barrett (Wanderers), 14 Ben Goodenough (Gosford), 15 Tony Gowing (Mudgee).

Reserves: 16 Danny Flannery (Harden), 17 Graeme Thompson (Wanderers), 18 Tim Vaughan (Narrabri), 19 Matt Waterford (Bathurst), 20 Adam Winter (Avoca Beach), 21 Justin law (Gunnedah), 22 James Heriot (Wagga Waratahs). Coach: Alan Barker, assistant coach Greg Horton (Dubbo).

Kick off 3.15pm at No 1 Oval, Dubbo.