Semi-Final: Melbourne Rising v NSW Country Eagles

•Rising make six changes to the starting line-up for the semi-final against NSW Country Eagles on Saturday recieving a boost with the return of Wallabies Toby Smith, Sefa Naivalu and James Hanson.

•Rising will become the first team to contest finals in all three seasons of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.

Melbourne Rising head coach Zane Hilton has been forced to make six changes to the starting line-up for the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship semi-final against NSW Country Eagles in Newcastle on Saturday.

The loss of Steve Cummins (head) and Lloyd Johansson (foot) to injuries against the Sydney Rays last weekend has further depleted the playing stocks but the Rising welcome back a number of key players for the knock-out final.

Wallabies Toby Smith, newly capped Sefa Naivalu and hooker James Hanson have been named for the semi-final, along with Jack Debreczeni, who returns from a groin injury after he missed the final round.

Lock Alex Toolis has been promoted to the run-on team, while Dom Shipperley has been shifted to fullback and Jonah Placid moved to the wing.

“We’re excited by the enormity of the challenge this weekend, the Eagles have been the benchmark team all season, so we’ll head to Newcastle knowing that it will take our best 80-minute performance to get the job done,” Rising head coach Zane Hilton said.

Smith and Naivalu, who became the 900th Wallaby with his international debut against South Africa in Pretoria, slot into the run-on team while Hanson has been named on the reserves bench.

The Melbourne Rising, who finished fourth courtesy of a bonus point against the Rays, will become the first team in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship to contest three consecutive finals since the competition’s inception in 2014.

The Rising will be hoping it’s third time lucky in finals when they take on the minor premiers on Saturday after they went down to the Perth Spirit 45-29 in 2014 and the UC Vikings 50-34 in 2015.

The two sides have met once previously this season in round three when the Eagles, who led by 24 points at half-time, staved off a second-half resurgence from the Rising for a thrilling 32-30 win in Tamworth.

The two-point victory was the Eagles first win over the Rising after the Victorians claimed the first two meetings with a 37-16 victory in Round 5, 2014 in Orange and 23-16 win in Round 8, 2015 at Simonds Stadium in Geelong.

2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Semi-Final NSW Country Eagles v Melbourne Rising Saturday 15 October 2016 Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground, Newcastle 3.00pm (AEST)

1. Toby Smith (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels) 2. Pat Leafa (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels) 3. Tyrel Lomax (Tuggeranong Vikings (ACT)/Melbourne Rebels) 4. Sam Jeffries (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels) 5. Alex Toolis (Edinburgh (UK)/Melbourne Rebels) 6. Ikapote Tupai (Melbourne Unicorns) 7. Jordy Reid (Melbourne Unicorns/Melbourne Rebels) 8. Colby Fainga’a (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels) 9. Mick Snowden (Melbourne Unicorns/Melbourne Rebels) 10. Jack Debreczeni (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels) 11. Jonah Placid (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels) 12. Sione Tuipulotu (Southern Districts/Melbourne Rebels) 13. Tom English (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels) 14. Sefa Naivalu (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels) 15. Dom Shipperley (Melbourne University/Melbourne Rebels)

Reserves 16. James Hanson (Harlequins/Melbourne Rebels) 17. Tom Moloney (Harlequin/Melbourne Rebels) 18. Tim Metcher (Moorabbin/Melbourne Rebels) 19. Rob Valetini (Harlequins) 20. Jordan Uelese (Melbourne University) 21. Keisuke Yamada (Footscray) 22. Taiso Silafai-Leaana (Power House) 23. Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano (Harlequins)