Queensland Cup - Round 3 -
Preview

TOOWOOMBA and Ipswich will sweat on appeals this Friday, heading into round three of the Queensland Cup rugby league season.

Following a tense Bulimba Cup Memorial clash between the two sides at Clive Berghofer Stadium last Saturday, both the Clydesdales and Jets have had players suspended.

Toowoomba are hoping to clear New Zealand forward Joe Clarke of a two-week ban for a high tackle, while Ipswich officials are contesting a one-week punishment to centre Steve Matai for a similar offence.

Central Comets forward Peter Penaia will miss this week?s game against the Jets, having been suspended one week himself.

Players put on report but not charged from round two were Nathan Sologinkin (Redcliffe), Daniel Green (Redcliffe), Damien Quinn (Wynnum), Aaron Bryant (Tweed Heads) and Steve Southern (North Queensland).

Josh Dillon of Souths-Logan had two tackles on report, but thankfully for his club, escaped censure.

QRL.com.au lists key points to watch for in this weekend?s rounds.

SATURDAY MARCH 27 Easts Tigers v Toowoomba Clydesdales, 2.10pm, Langlands Park Televised match of the round...Easts enters the match in first place, while Toowoomba is in fourth?Several Toowoomba players look to have been rewarded after a strong win over arch rival Ipswich last weekend?Man of the match Michael Ryan is on the Broncos bench, two-try hero Craig Frawley is on the wing and monster centre/winger Gary Tupou has trained with the top squad?Representative stars Carl Webb and Ben Ikin are both out with injury?In return the Clydesdales get Tom Learoyd and Darren Mapp back from NRL and Tony Duggan recovers from injury?Easts have named an unchanged side from that which beat Brothers-Valleys 44-10?The two locks for the day, Darren Smith and Adrian Vowles, started on the bench together for Queensland during Game 2 of the 1994 State of Origin series?Sitting next to them was a Maroons rookie called Gorden Tallis.

Ipswich Jets v Central Comets, 6pm, Bendigo Bank Oval Both teams looking to bounce back from demoralising losses last weekend?Ipswich led Toowoomba with 24 minutes left to go only to fall 40-22, while Central had prop Peter Penaia sent off and went from 4-4 just before halftime to 28-8 losers against Tweed ?Penaia has been suspended for a week, but not for the tackle which led to his dismissal?Ipswich have dropped last year?s Queensland Cup leading point-scorer Steve West to their second team?West won last year?s title by almost 100 points from Reggie Cressbrook?Former North Queensland Cowboy, rugby union player and sprinter Adam Connolly could be a late inclusion for the Jets after initially fearing an eye injury?Ipswich hooker Jamie Tomlinson is gone for the season with a shoulder reconstruction, a big loss?Central assistant coach and Maroon legend Jason Hetherington played Residents for Queensland while at Ipswich.

North Queensland Young Guns v Wynnum Seagulls, 6.30pm, Dairy Farmers Stadium After punishing Burleigh with the ball-playing duo of Matt Bowen and Nathan Fien, North Queensland has named Steve Goodhew and Wallace Solomona in the halves?Goodhew is usually a hooker at QRL level, while Solomona was a centre in previous seasons?Regular halfback Aaron Payne has been kept at hooker, his most recent role at NRL level?Wynnum promised to make changes after losing 40-18 at Redcliffe and responded by calling crowd favourite Mohammed Allouche onto the bench?Former Bronco lower grader Damien Quinn moves from centre to lock?Seagulls stalwart Clayton `Monkey? Maher is missing after suffering a sternum injury against Redcliffe?The baysiders have former Roosters Jersey Flegg player and goal-kicking centre Justin Hoggart in their centres.

SUNDAY MARCH 28 Burleigh Bears v Tweed Heads Seagulls, 3pm, Pizzey Park Sure to draw one of the biggest Queensland Cup crowds of the regular season?Gold Coast derby starts with Tweed unbeaten and Burleigh looking for their first win, a turnaround on what most would have predicted before the season started?After an inspirational chase and tackle on Matthew Bowen last week, David Hicks starts at five-eighth for Burleigh?Hicks and lock Kris Flint both played for Tweed last year?Conversely Tweed has named former Burleigh players Aaron Bryant and Steve Packer?Seagulls coach Steve Murphy set his charges the task of winning three of their first five games, so far they are two from two?After leading the competition in tries scored in 2002 and then departing for the Broncos, Dan Kennedy returns to Burleigh?s top squad.

Souths-Logan Magpies v Redcliffe Dolphins, 3pm, Davies Park The competition?s worst defensive side host the Cup?s top attacking side, statistically speaking?Souths-Logan have not changed their starting pack at all, but shuffled their backs, most notably calling Alwyn Simpson into fullback, with Nathan Roe sliding onto the bench?Former Queensland Country fullback and centre Justin McKay looks to have found a home at hooker for Redcliffe?The Dolphins have become known for converting players to dummy-half, highlighted by Barry Berrigan?s successful switch from fullback to NRL number 9?The last time these two sides met the result was a 66-22 win for Redcliffe last July?Only three players from that Magpies team remain and two ? Ben Watt and Stanley Fau ? have graduated to starting players in that time.

Norths Devils v Brothers-Valleys, 3pm, Bishop Park A rejuvenation of old and passionate northside rivalries between the Devils, the Brethren and Diehards, except this time it?s two-on-one?Contrasting fortunes last week, with Norths thumping Souths-Logan 42-16, while Brothers-Valleys was crushed 44-10?Devils centre Jake Webster, who scored three tries last week, is a Valleys junior?Brothers-Valleys has six changes to its squad and have moved impressive Bryce Killoch to prop following the loss of Clinton Raven (broken nose)?Norths has brought Jeremy Smith an to the bench after his return from suspension, while Michael Crockett comes onto the wing for Quentin Laulu-Togagae