The Leitch Oval clash shapes as an important one for the Dogs, as they aim to consolidate their third spot on the ladder.

Gunnedah will be be keen though not to take the Eagles lightly, who themselves boast the leading goal kicker for the competition in damaging forward Todd Fagan.

They are missing captain and representative defender Ben Maddern for the season though, and this could be an area the Dogs exploit with their inform forward line.

Coach Greg Piggott is leading the charge so far with 12 goals for the year, whilst Mitchell Swain returned last week from injury to slot five majors in Gunnedah’s 124 point thrashing of the Kangaroos.

Piggott, though, doesn’t want his side to get too carried away too early in the season, instead challenging the Bulldogs to maintain their focus on top-four consolidation.

“Hopefully we play the way we did last week, it’d be nice to consolidate that top four spot early in the year,” Piggott said.

“But they have dangerous blokes around the ground like us so we will have to be switched on for four quarters to get the win.”

Of those ‘dangerous blokes’ he singled out Fagan, who is the Eagles trump card in front of goal.

“It’ll be a good test to see if we can shut him down, he’s a great set of hands and accurate set shot,” Piggott said.

The Dogs in recent times have also switched players to new positions, and most notably last week was Ollie Neader’s shift from the midfield to the wing.

It reaped benefits for the Dogs last week, as well as the rotation of other midfielders such as Jake Spackman, Scott Hardy, Ben Maher and Andrew George all impacting the scoreboard through the midfield/forward rotation Piggott has employed.

Piggott believes he’s still feeling out his best options around the ground.

“We have the luxury to test out blokes in different positions, so far its been impressive,” he said.

“But Narrabri is quite a small ground, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes this weekend.”

Spackman, who played in the QAFL with Broadbeach before a spell at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, has fitted into life as a Bulldog.

He has booted eight goals in three appearances and consistently featured in Gunnedah’s best players.

Another leading light for the Dogs has been ruckman Al Hillard, named best-on-ground in the big win against the Kangaroos.

The match starts consecutive away matches for the Dogs, where after this weekend they take on the Tamworth Swans at Tamworth No.1 Oval.