Tigers No. 7 Chris Rose broke his jaw in the opening round win against Temora last weekend and will be replaced by hooker James Luff for the Group 9 blockbuster at Anzac Park.

Mark Elphick will take over at hooker.

Coach Cameron Woo said it would have minimal impact on their performance.

“It’s obviously a negative coming out of an opening round win where we were probably below par,” he said.

“Obviously we haven’t played too many games without him in recent years and it will be up to others in the leadership group to step up and steer us around the park.

“At the same time Luff played at halfback in the pre-season and so it is a relatively easy transition.”

The Junee born and bred Woo is under no illusion as to the challenge posed by the reigning premiers and downplayed some of the Thunder’s off-season departures.

“We are well aware of the danger Ben Jeffery and the Seaton brothers pose in attack and this is a club that has won the past three grand finals,” he said.

“In recent years we have met in the home and away season and generally at some stage in the finals — it’s a healthy rivalry and both clubs respect each other.”

Last year’s Group 9 coach of the year believes the forecast wet weather will make it a battle of the forwards.

“I think most games are won in the forwards,” he said.

“The wet weather will probably have some effect on the game but I think both of us played enough games in the wet last year to say that it won’t bother either of us too much.

“But we are a little different to the team of recent years as well, possible less reliant on the forwards.

“But Blake Dunn and Naseri Naseri give us new attacking options so we have varied our style to cater for that.

“It’s a work in progress and may take a while to bed down but that’s the direction at the moment.”