A new rivalry between two new clubs in the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership awaits when the North Queensland Cowboys play the Wests Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
Both sides are coming off losses in Round 3 and won't want to make it back-to-back defeats for the first time in their brief but respective club histories in the NRLW.
The Cowboys will need to address their defence after leaking 40 to the Broncos on home turf last week while Wests Tigers let the Raiders get out to a handy lead and weren't able to mow them down late.
On neutral turf this match shapes as a fairly even battle with the likes of Kirra Dibb, Fran Goldthorp and Shaniah Power leading the way for the Cowboys.
Wests Tigers co-captain Kezie Apps has found some form while Leianne Tufuga has had a blistering start to the season on the left edge with five tries in three games.
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Team news
Cowboys: Indigenous All Stars playmaker Tahlulah Tillett has been named for her first NRLW match of the season in the halves alongside Kirra Dibb after last week's loss to the Broncos with Krystal Blackwell left out the side to play local footy this weekend. China Polata returns to the wing and Mia Middleton is back in the centres after serving a suspension which shifts Shellie Long into the forwards. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (head knock) is also out with April Ngatunpuna promoted to start. Jess Reeves is the new player on the bench in her NRLW debut. There were no changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick-off.
Wests Tigers: Rebecca Pollard will make her NRLW debut at five-eighth after coming into the side on Friday to replace Losana Lutu, who suffered a knee injury against the Raiders. Botille Vette-Welsh (head knock) won't play due to a failed head injury assessment so Pauline Piliae-Rasabale has been named at fullback. Imogen Gobran is the new face on the interchange. There were no further changes when the teams were finalised 60 minutes before kick off.
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Stat Attack
- This is the first time both clubs will meet in the NRLW with both looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in their club's histories.
- Wests Tigers forward Christian Pio leads the competition with 12 offloads.
- Cowboys halfback Kirra Dibb is second behind Tayla Preston for most kick metres in the competition with 944.