However, as coach Michael Sullivan pointed out, the Tigers have plenty of back-up this season. Wingham's reserve grade is on top of the ladder and has yet to lose a game.

Trent Green and Tim Watson will both be missing this weekend because of work, while Kyran Budd and Blake Fraser are out injured.

Fraser was given a spell on the interchange bench and then picked up a minor injury when given a run. Sullivan said he won't be risking him this week.

"I don't want little problems to become big problems,'' he said.

Budd will probably miss two games because of an ankle complaint.

However, the Tigers will still field a formidable pack, with Tate Grofos given a run in the starting side as a second row, partnering Jake Mullen. Nick Beacham and Joel Kliendienst, two of Winghams best in the big win over Taree City last week, will be the starting props.

The Tigers will be shooting for four straight wins on Sunday and their sloppy start to the season is fast fading from memory - although Sullivan won't forget a few barbs aimed in his direction after the successive losses to Forster-Tuncurry and Wauchope.

As he said in the post game interview following the 50-12 demolition of Taree City last week, Sullivan thought his side was a bit off their game - probably courtesy of a gruelling road trip the previous week to Kempsey.

"Obviously we don't want to become Old Bar's first victim for the year,'' Sullivan said about Sunday's game.

"But if we can get over them we'll be looking pretty good, with three matches at home as well as the bye.''

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Wingham will then face Port Macquarie at home before starting the second round against Forster at Wingham. The general bye will be on the long weekend (June 8/9) before the Tigers host Wauchope.