Howard has been in great touch for the Wildcats this year, but was struggling towards the end of last weekend’s bruising match against Tuncurry-Forster, won 3-2 by Taree.

“He was knocked around a fair bit and he has a bit of a target on him this year,’’ Taree coach Rod Bartley said.

“I know he’ll play if at all possible, but I’d say he’s 50/50 at this stage.’’

The Wildcats have other injury concerns, with Jackson Witts and struggling to be fit while goal keeper Curtis Jones is still out with a broken rib. His replacement, Aaron Green, is also under an injury cloud and Bartley concedes his options will be limited if Green can’t take his place. Green played reserve grade and backed up for firsts last weekend.

The Wildcats sit in third place behind Macleay Valley Rangers and Wallis Lake on the ladder.

‘But all the sides we've played apart from MVR have been below on the table,’’ Bartley pointed out.

Rangers downed Taree 5-3 in the side’s only loss of the season.

“So this is going to be a big test for us,’’ Bartley said.

Bartley said there’s great rivalry between the Wildcats and Wallis Lake.

“That all started before I got here,’’ he said.

However, he agreed Wallis Lake have had the upper hand in recent years. This includes ending Taree’s season last year in the elimination semi-final on the way to winning a second successive premiership.

“We’ll go out there with a plan – or as much of a plan as you can have against Wallis Lake,’’ Bartley said.

He said Wallis Lake have a number of speed merchants in the side and the Wildcats will have to counter them.

The game will be played at Forster’s Boronia Park, described by Bartley as a ‘minefield.’

“But we’ll hopefully put a competitive side on the park and see how we go from there,’’ he said.