With the competition now split into a first and second division, the unbeaten blue and golds will attempt to starve the Blacks of possession to maintain their perfect record.

Griffith was the only side in the top tier to get within 25-points of the free-scoring Steamers in the first round when it lost 43-18.

On that day prop James Kora dominated the scrum, while the Albury side was also too good at the line-outs.

Coach Dave Stewart said the Steamers had to repeat that performance if they were to maintain their unbeaten record.

“If Griffith can win the ball at the set pieces, get parity in possession, they are very capable of scoring points,” he said.

Sam Mullany, 19, returns to the backline after injury and will start on the wing.

But halfback Sandy Middleton will miss the home clash, the versatile Blake Le Cornu returning to the No.9 jumper he wore against Wagga City.

The strength of Steamers’ forward pack for today’s game is illustrated by the quality of players to start in the reserve grade fixture.

Regular top-tier players in last year’s grand final side Louie Levett, Dan Hogg and Tom Rowan will be in the engine room for the second XV, while centre Scott Hannaford will return from injury in the backs.

Stewart said the selection headaches were set to continue, with outstanding rookies Dan Herden and Tom Boyle expected to be match fit in the coming weeks.

“We know that this is the business end of the season and that the squad needs to be fit and ready week-in, week-out,” he said.

“We also know Griffith was under-done in the first round but we were pretty rusty too — coming off a first round win and a bye before travelling 2½ hours to play them at home.

“But they have now had the opportunity to see how we play and they are going to pretty tough tomorrow.”

The Blacks will lose some potency with fullback and kicking machine Jason-Waring Bryant out for the rest of the season, but coach Lee Kimball says they still have the fire-power to match it with the Steamers.

“In the first round we didn’t play that well but we still managed to keep them to one of the lowest margins between them and any other team and I think we can play a lot better than we did before,” he told Fairfax media.