Regular half Robbie Byatt has moved to centre to replace off-season recruit Sabastian Rapana.

Thunder has racked up successive wins over Young and Cootamundra and will start favourites to make it a hat-trick.

"We're just starting to click together as a team and stick to our plans," second-rower Liam Wiscombe said.

The barnstorming back-rower scored the match-winner against Young with minutes left to round out the league's longest trip (around three hours) in style.

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The teenager is now in his third season of first grade.

Because the Border is predominantly Australian Rules, Thunder always requires some recruits, but Wiscombe says the players are gelling.

"It's pretty good really because all the local blokes are there and all the new blokes fit in pretty well because it's a good club," he said.

Thunder holds down fourth spot with five wins and a draw from the first eight rounds.

The club has a five-point break on the nearest teams battling to replace Temora for the fifth and last finals spot but, if results go as expected, it could have a stunning seven-point break at the halfway mark and be virtually guaranteed of returning to finals for the first time in three years.

Conversely, Roos' season is on the line, so they have to win.

"From what I've seen with the results they're pretty tough, they've had some narrow losses," Wiscombe said.

It was revealed during the week that hard-running lock Luke Ingram is well-placed in the Weissel Medal.

Ingram trails classy Gundagai hooker James Luff by two votes.

The Bombala recruit started the season superbly, producing a series of crashing runs and rugged defence as Thunder posted an undefeated run over the first month.

The club then fell to heavyweights Southcity and Tumut, but Ingram continued to make an impact.

Lou Goodwin was the club's last Weissel Medal winner in 2014 before attempting to break into NRL level for a second time.

Injuries though cruelled his hopes of winning a spot in Canberra Raiders' first grade team.

Ingram was injured in the loss to the Cherrypickers and forced from the field, but he remains confident of returning to his best against the Roos.

Thunder will need to maintain its strong recent form as it hosts ladder leaders Gundagai in a crackerjack contest the following week.

Albury played out a 28-all draw with the Tigers in the opening round.