After a first round bye, the Magpies have played just once in the past month and that was a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Weston Bears in the local derby two weeks ago.

Their round two game against Valentine was washed out and last Saturday night's game against competition leader Lambton Jaffas was cancelled because of rain.

There is nothing apart from the Weston clash to judge Maitland's form on.  That revealed a team needing to play football to find cohesion as a unit and to get some match fitness.

The last time these two met it was part of a gruelling and drama-filled semi-finals series that ultimately saw Broadmeadow progress and win the subsequent week to lift the championship.

The Magpies return to Magic Park this Saturday where they won the most recent, second-leg of that fixture, and haven't lost at in their past three appearances there which included that infamous 7-0 flogging over Broadmeadow in 2017.

Magic have been strong in their recent outings though picking up two close victories against Adamstown and rivals Hamilton.

Maitland's form away from home has been impressive though as the only team who has been able to win when hosting the Magpies in the past year has been Weston. Coach Mick Bolch will be hoping that in 2019 his team can continue that great away record by avoiding defeating this weekend.

Without Matt Comerford in the side this year, Maitland struggled to create and convert chances, but the more important area of their game may be attempting to shut down Broadmeadow's midfield.

Weston enjoyed a week off last weekend due to the bye, but their opponents Valentine, haven't taken the field since Round 1, and it's that unknown that helps makes this match an enthralling fixture.

Weston have impressed so far this year with two wins next to their name, but they've typically and historically had trouble when facing the Phoenix.

Until this year, the Bears were the only side that Valentine had beaten since July 2017, and since Valentine's return to the top flight in 2016, Weston is still yet to collect a victory having drawn once and lost the other five games.

It's been a long time since Valentine have kicked a ball though as their only game came in Round 1 when they defeated Adamstown, while the Bears have been able to play two extra matches in that time which may prove a factor throughout this fixture.

Weston's Zac Sneddon will be coming up against his former club and is coming off the back of some decent form alongside his other centre-half partner Nathan Morris.

Sneddon's replacement Ben Hay was superb for the Phoenix in their opening match.