Courtney comes in at prop for suspended James Curran and Tupou at outside centre.  Jope Guanavou slides back to breakaway after Dave Currey broke his ankle in last week’s 29-6 to undefeated competition leaders Hamil-ton at Passmore Oval.

It was the Blacks’ fourth straight loss to start the 2015 season and they will be hoping to turn the tables against the Gropers in front of their home crowd this weekend.

“We are desperate for that [a win],” Maitland coach Todd Bowd said.

The focus for Maitland in their sixth round encounter will be ball control according to Bowd.

“We need to create and sustain pressure by controlling the ball,” he said.

“We have been unable to do that for the first month of the competition and we have been working hard to address that.”

The Blacks will have their eye on former Maitland ­player Isaac Upton, who will line up at fullback for Nelson Bay. 

“He is always very elusive and they tend to go to him fairly early and deep behind the advantage line,” Bowd said.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Around the grounds and Wanderers host Merewether Carlton in the match of the round at No.2 Sportsground, Lake Macquarie are away to Southern Beaches, Hamilton are at home to Singleton and University will be up against The Waratahs.  

In other rugby union news, Blacks pair Isaac Enright and Patrick Batey were selected in the NSW Country under 18s squad after helping Newcastle claim the NSW Country Championship title on home soil last weekend.

MAITLAND BLACKS XV: 1 Kurt Courtney, 2 Dan Runchel, 3 Tevita Naitini, 4 Theo Risley, 5 James Johnston, 6 Nick Davidson, 7 Jope Guanavou, 8 Sean O’Connor (c), 9 Luke Cunningham, 10 Ryan McCormack, 11 Rob Williamson, 12 Jye Estatheo, 13 Alex Tupou, 14 Jono O’Toole, 15 Josh McCormack