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With a depleted player pool due to injury and suspension Palmyra will struggle tomorrow to overcome a very powerful Weste Subiaco.
Ratu Srganiyaui, Palmyra's teenage fullback/winger is still weeks away from returning to the field following an ankle injury, no 8 Andrew Turner has his mandatory 2 weeks rest after being mildly concussed last week and second rower Elliott Stephenson is serving 2 weeks suspension. The suspension arose out of an incident against University when Stephenson was subjected to a "monkey grip" by an opponent and retaliated. Only the retaliation was made note of by touch official Freda Black in her report. Several other players are also in doubt and will undergo fitness tests prior to the game.
As a result an opportunity arises for either Scott Turnbull or Chris Rankin to break into the first grade at second row, but Turners replacement at no.8 will be interesting.
On the plus side, Palmyra's flankers Tom Ratahai and Jerry Viriki are looking sharp and James Stannard at 5/8 is distributing excellent ball to his outside backs.
Bolstered by a contingent of Eastern States players recriuted over the summer, including some dynamic backs such as David Van Kotze and Kane Allen and with rampant back rower Kiti Fulina in full flight,Wests will be the team to beat, this weekend and this season.