New faces are expected in the run on side for the John Stewart captained-Fiji Airways Drua against NSW Country Eagles on Saturday.

The round three match of the Australian National Rugby Championship will be held at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka this Saturday.

The Drua will be without Apisai Tauyavuca and robust winger Avete Daveta who were injured in the 45-24 win over Melbourne Rising at Harlequins Oval last Saturday.

Coach Senirusi Seruvakula wants to blood new players in the third round.

“I will be making changes due to injuries and I also need to blood new players,”Seruvakula said.

“Apisai is out for three to four weeks so we need to bring in another lock forward.

“I will need to bring in changes after two rounds. I can’t keep on playing the same team every week. I have to be smart managing the players.”

He added Vodafone Flying Fijians head coach John McKee would be selecting his team for the November tour before the end of the NRC which would likely include some Fijian Drua players.

“I want players to be injury-free if they are to be selected for the November tour,” he said.

Seruvakula said the team was ready to play their hearts out in front of their fans at Lawaqa Park on Saturday.

“It is very exciting for us to come back and play at home.  We want the fans to turn up, cheer the players,” he said.

“It is a very exciting competition, it is different. We want the players who play in the Skipper Cup to come and witness the competition. It is very fast, defence solid, you score, they score which is exciting rugby. It is a privilege that Australia has invited us to be part of the competition.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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