A postponed opening round fixture followed by the bye has resulted in the Wildcats sitting out the opening fortnight. Tomorrow Taree plays Port Saints at Port Macquarie.

However, with Easter the following weekend, the Wildcats will sidelined again.

"Hopefully we'll get a good run of matches after that,'' captain-coach Jordan Howard said, while conceding match fitness will be a problem tomorrow.

Howard pointed out that Port Saints have only had one game, as they had the bye in the first round, so they'll also be a bit underdone as well.

The Wildcats will be minus some regular personnel tomorrow for varying reasons.

"We'll be a bit light-on this weekend,'' Howard confirmed.

"We will have enough to start two fresh teams, but our reserves for first grade will have already played a game.''

Taree will be without regular goal scorer Ricky Campbell this season as he's switched to rugby with the Manning River Ratz.

Callum Griffis, who missed most of last season with injury, will step into his role.

Mark Newnham is another on the comeback trial from injury.

"He hasn't played for about four years, so he's looking forward to a game,'' Howard said.

Howard also missed much of last year after tearing a hamstring. He assures he's now 100 per cent.

Another key player, representative goal keeper Curtis Jones, also had problems with injury and illness in 2018, but has been training strongly and Howard tips he'll have a good year.

Howard said the majority of the 2018 roster will be backing up including stalwarts Justin Atkins, Jackson Witts and Josh Ferris, although Ferris will miss tomorrow's game.

He added the Wildcats will have a competitive side on the park tomorrow.

"And when we get everyone back we'll be right,'' he said.

Related: 

Howard assured player numbers will improve gradually in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile in other round three matches tomorrow Wauchope and Tuncurry-Forster will meet at Wauchope. Both have yet to record a win this season.

Unbeaten Macleay Valley will host Kempsey Saints in a local derby while Camden Haven and Wallis Lake clash at Laurieton. Port United has the weekend off with the bye.

Port United and Macleay Valley lead the competition on six points with Port Saints on four and Wallis Lake, Taree and Camden Haven all on three. Kempsey Saints have the one point while Tuncurry-Forster and Wauchope have yet to open their account.