Both men have been playing elsewhere but were named at five-eighth for their teams ahead of round six Newcastle Rugby League encounters.

Waetford will partner fellow New Zealand recruit Zebastian Luisi for the Pickers against Western Suburbs at Maitland Showground on Saturday. 

Walker will play alongside Hayden Granger for the Bulldogs against Central Newcastle at St John Oval on Sunday.

In another shuffle for the Maitland backline Lincoln Smith will move to the centres to replace Tyme Dow-Nikau, who has once again been picked for the Newcastle Knights’ NSW Cup side.

Ryan Lacy will be the other centre for Maitland with Kade Hardy and Josh Morrison on the wings and Matt Soper-Lawler at fullback.

Pat Robards and Damien Frize make up the Pickers front-row with Jarrod Smith due to return from injury at ­hooker.

Billy Towers and Jayden Rosberg are named in the back-row with PJ Ellis at lock.

Luke Clydesdale, Dion Briggs, Howie Grant and Tylar Carter are due to start on the bench.

For the Bulldogs, NRL premiership winner Daniel Abraham returns in the second-row alongside Ben Wyborn with Mitch Cullen at lock.

Peter Cronin and Brock Gilmour are the props and Terence Seu Seu the ­hooker.

The Bulldogs backline consists of Bradley Manton at fullback, Kyle Smith and Damien Walters are on the wings and Scott Dunn and Simon Craig are the centres.

Jay Stevens, Brock Hamer, Mick Campton and Tom McKenzie have been named on the Bulldogs’ bench.

Maitland will be out to avoid a third straight loss after an unbeaten opening two games in the 2015 season. The Bulldogs cracked their first win last start against the Pickers. 

Both matches kick-off at 3pm.

MAITLAND PICKERS: 1 Matt Soper-Lawler 2 Kade Hardy 3 Ryan Lacy 4 Lincoln Smith 5 Josh Morrison 6 Steve Waetford 7 Zebastian Luisi 8 Pat Robards 9 Jarrod Smith 10 Damien Frize 11 Billy Towers 12 Jayden Rosberg 13 PJ Ellis 14 Luke Clydesdale 15 Dion Briggs 16 Howie Grant 17 Tylar Carter

KURRI KURRI BULLDOGS: 1 Bradley Manton 2 Kyle Smith 3 Scott Dunn 4 Simon Craig 5 Damien Walters 6 Ryan Walker 7 Hayden Granger 8 Peter Cronin 9 Terence Seu Seu 10 Brock Gilmour 11 Ben Wyborn 12 Daniel Abraham 13 Mitch Cullen 14 Jay Stevens 15 Brock Hamer 16 Mick Campton 17 Tom McKenzie