Central North Rugby Round 5: Gunnedah fullback James Perrett looking to continue try-scoring ways against Walcha

But the Gunnedah fullback has been in try-scoring overdrive this season.

On the back of consecutive four-try hauls, he has in four games scored nine tries.

He'll be hoping to continue that on Saturday when the Red Devils venture to Walcha to take on an improving Rams.

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Perrett hasn't played at Walcha since, he reckoned, about 2010 and he is looking forward to it, albeit not the predicted top of 10 degrees.

Incidentally the Red Devils' home game against the Rams two years ago was his first in the red and blue (for first grade) in over five days.

Only recently returned from a two-year stint in the UK, he helped them claim one of their best wins of the season, upsetting the Rams, who were at the time leading the competition, 24-nil.

The shoe is on the other foot this time round with the Red Devils the one's sitting on top.

But they are wary of a Rams side that has in the last two weeks beaten Narrabri and Moree.

"They're looking quite good at the moment, have a nice looking backline," Perrett said.

"The scores and games they've been putting together it will be a tough game."

Currently unbeaten, he said the feeling around the club is as good as he can remember in his time.

"Everyone's full of confidence," he said.

"It's a very different feel to what I'm used to in Gunnedah."

Last week against Pirates was a perfect example. When the premiers started to get on a roll in the second half, in the past they probably would have let them roll over the top of them.

But they put their "chest out and went hard at them again".

The 30-year old has added that extra sprinkling of spark to the Red Devils attack. Even in the few games he played two years ago he had a notable impact.

Of his recent try-scoring feats, he said he is just finding himself "in the right spots".

In saying that the backline is "going really well" and they have formed some good combinations.

And they have been seeing plenty of ball, thanks to the work of the forwards, who have really "muscled up" and are providing that front foot ball that has enabled them to really exploit their pace outwide.

That pace has also enabled them to play a bit more of an off the cuff game, which Perrett loves and they got some good pay from last week.

Also handy on the touch field earlier in the year he went away with the Northern Eagles to the National Touch League (NTL).

"It was amazing," he said.

"It was so different from rugby and everything I've done."

Playing for the senior mixed side he was adjudged the side's male player of the tournament.

It was the first rep touch football he'd played after being encouraged to trial for the Eagles by fellow Gunnedah players - and former Red Devils - Dean Witton and Paul Brady.

The Red Devils have been forced to make a number of changes for Saturday through suspension and injury. Sanimo Navatu was suspended for four weeks and Elijah Sufia and Junior Nasilivata both two weeks following incidents in the Pirates' game.

They also have a few niggles they are taking caution with with some big games coming up. It means debuts for Angus Frend (wing) and Jolame Domini (No.8) while George Toalepai and Ben Maunder return to the starting side at prop and half-back respectively.

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