Blues' coach Zac Masters and fellow forward Ron Leapai didn't play when the Thunder fell to Tumut 30-6, remarkably just a fortnight ago.

"They're a pretty complete side, but there's no doubt their forward pack is their strength," Thunder coach Adrian Purtell conceded.

"Zac Masters and Ron Leapai played for the Country side the other week, but we have a young pack largely full of Albury boys, so we'll have a crack at it."

The Thunder has shown great resilience over the past three matches, snaring their first two wins after suffering three defeats, including two hidings, to start the season.

"Definitely it shows one of the characters of our team, how much effort we're willing to put in," Purtell praised.

"Obviously it's a massive challenge, they're probably competition favourites after beating Southcity and Young over the past month, but we'll play with no pressure."

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The Thunder will face the Blues in first and reserve grade, however the Sullivan Cup (under 16s) and Weissel Cup (under 18s) sides have forfeited due to implications of Victoria's lockdown.

The Thunder's first grade side is unaffected by the lockdown. which prevents Wodonga-based players.

It was a different story with the reserve grade outfit, but the club is confident it has enough personnel.

"We lost five reserve grade players who are young blokes from the army who live in Wodonga so we will be down on numbers, but first grade wasn't affected," secretary Warren Jenkinson said.

The leaguetag side would also have been affected, but Tumut is not taking part this year.

Albury has its Weissel Cup coach and seven players on the Victorian side of the border, while Sullivan Cup was down to nine.

Jenkinson admitted it was disappointing to be without their two junior teams but was pleased the impact wasn't as widespread throughout the club.

"It is not good as you want to see your kids playing but it is what it is," Jenkinson said.

With the Thunder playing and training out of Greenfield Park in Albury's centre, the impact isn't expected to worsen should the Victorian government extend its lockdown past the current seven-day period, which is set to expire on midnight Thursday.

Albury is away to Wagga Brothers next week, which it toppled only last weekend.

Group Nine president Andrew Hinchcliffe is pleased Albury found a way to overcome most of its obstacles.

"At the end of the day we just want to have people participate in rugby league and where it is permissible, under the advice of government, we are happy for that to continue," Hinchcliffe said of the unique situation in Victoria.

"It is unfortunate Albury Thunder's 16s and 18s have been impacted but we're just in line with the rest of society and doing what we need to do."

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