Maitland will be without key players Chris Logan, Josh McCormack and Phil Bradford for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against Merewether at Marcellin Park.
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McCormack and Bradford are unavailable through family and travel commitments respectively, however, worryingly Logan has been unable to shrug off the effects of an injury from round two against University.
Blacks coach Matt Thomas said Logan had painful spasms in the muscles of his back and chest and the cause of the problem was still somewhat of a mystery.
"I sometimes think the Rugby gods are here to test you as much as help you. We are going to be tested this weekend, but it's a test that I think will stand us in good stead going forward.
"This is a great test this weekend. It is going to be close and aggressive game, a real crowd pleaser.
"It's a massive loss in terms of experience, but we have been working throughout the pre-season to ensure when players come they just slip into a system they are used to.
"We don't make excuses about injuries, this is what rugby's about. It's a long season and you are not going to win it with 15 players, you are going to win it with about 40."
The Blacks will start Lachlan Bradford at No.10 to replace McCormack. Devante Manu comes into the front-row as a prop and Willie Soe moves across to hooker to replace Bradford.
Chris Martin will come back in on the wing and Dale Clacherty will move back to fullback to cover for Logan.
"Dale (Clacherty) is still learning the game having come across from league, but he is strong, quick, he is willing to learn, he is easy to coach, It's a win for us having him, because he is a talent and most of all he is just a bloody good bloke," Thomas said.
"The other guys coming in all have first grade experience and are familiar with the systems we are playing."
Thomas said the new game plan of quick ball movement was starting to take shape but would be a work in progress.
We've adjusted and tweaked a few things which is ongoing. We've made the changes to suit the players and just make sure we are too advanced for ourselves at this stage.
"We're just dropping too much ball at the moment and we have been working hard on our ball skiills
"Once we cut that out our attacking options are going to become better, have more consistency and have more ball time and that's what we need.
"I think some of it is because of the speed we are playing the game. We have been training with the movement of the ball so they should be used to that.
"I think it's just a lack of concentration, there's a lot going through their minds and I think it's just a lack of concentration.
"A lot of the delivery of the pass has been ordinary. It is being passed behind players not to them."
Thomas said the real positive was that the team was still able to win while undergoing change.
"Every point is important, particularly in terms of making the finals and finishing order. To keep winning when we are making changes to the way the Blacks have traditionally played shows the team's commitment and desire," he said.
