Star troops such as Chris Logan, Michael Howell, Josh McCormack, Max Stafford and Alastair Fraser are all coming into contention for first grade selection and potentially dislodging players from a winning line-up.

"We've probably got 22 to 23 players who are of first grade quality now, but we only have 15 starting spots," Thomas said ahead of this week's home game against University of Newcastle.

"Michael Howell returns through second grade, Chris Logan is back, Josh McCormack is back, Max Stafford is back.

"Alastair Fraser returns from holidays and will also resume in second grade and by the looks John Birrell should be be cleared to play on Friday from HIA.

"There's starting to be some really nice selection headaches.

"It is going to strengthen not only first grade, but the whole club.

"The boys are performing that are there, so I'm trying to work out who I'm going to drop and it's a tough one.

"There are going to be some hard calls made in times to come, but unfortunately as a coach you've got to create those opportunities for players and you have to make hard decisions at the same time.

"It is never pleasant to make these hard calls, it is never pleasant, but it's what I'm here to do.

"The positive is that there is real competition for each position and that creates a better rugby side."

Thomas said he was fast approaching the point he had hoped to reach when he would be able to make selections based on which player provides the best match-up against an opponent.

"I'm not set on one first grade side, I'm set on squads of first grade and adapting to each team we play," he said.

"I've got enormous back-row quality and selection is going to be about who is performing and who matches up best against the opposition.

"Nick Davidson and Jon Birrell have similar qualities, Jimmy Johnson gives us a different dimension as he works hard off the ball and then Travis at No.8. So our back-row is pretty strong, very different to most sides but it works for us."

There will be similar headaches in choosing which combination of backs plays.

But in the interim, the Blacks are under firm instructions to maintain the intensity which has seen them pull off tough wins against top five opponents Wanderers and Lake Macquarie in the past two games.

"Unfortunately, University have been struggling a bit but I'm not taking any game lightly," Thomas said. "We can't drop the easy ones. We'll be playing the same way as we have over recent weeks, that's full bore, full steam ahead."