Combined with their pre-season competition win over Port Sharks, it's a sharp turn of fortune for a Wingham side that won only four games in total in the 2015 season.

"We finished fifth in the pre-season comp last year, and we won it this year, so we'll take a lot of confidence from that," Lewis said.

The Tigers will clash with the Forster-Tuncurry Hawks on Sunday at Harry Elliot Oval at Tuncurry.

Wingham will have representative players Lewis, Mitch Collins and Tim Bridge back on deck for the clash.

However they'll lose Thomas Dooker, who is out for several weeks with a knee injury.

As a result, Matt Bridge will come into the team to cover Dooker's backline spot, while Lewis will shift from lock to five eighth, a position he is more than comfortable in.

Lewis said he was wary of a Forster-Tuncurry side that have installed a new coach after some pre-season turmoil.

"We beat them earlier this year 30-16, but I'm expecting a better side to turn up this time around," he said.

Despite the Wingham side enjoying a strong run of form, Lewis said he was wary of a strong Hawks forward pack.

"The boys are all on a high, but we know we have to match them up front," he said.

Lewis is confident that a sharp Tigers backline will be able to inflict enough damage if the forward exchanges are even.

"Last time we matched them in the forwards and our backs did all the damage."

"If our forwards stand up we should be right."