CANDICE Clay has been terrorising opposition defences off the bench for the Hunter Wildfires.
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A powerhouse runner, boasting a fend and an off-load, the utility forward has her own highlights reel.
She set up three tries in the 53-0 win over Gordon a fortnight ago and was nearly as damaging in the 24-17 loss to Easts.
Now, coach Brooke Saunders wants the wrecking ball to have the same impact from the start of the game.
Clay replaces her mum, Tammy, at loosehead prop for the crucial clash against Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park on Saturday.
"I want her to go hard and be a threat in every part of the game," Saunders said. "In defence, in attack ... every part. Hopefully she can have the same impact at the start of the game as she does off the bench."
Tighthead prop Maryann Utai is a similar bulldozing-type player.
"They give us a one-two punch in the forwards," Saunders said. "We want the forwards to move the ball and punch it up a couple of passes out, then try and shift it wide pretty quickly.
"Candice has a license to roam as long as it is within the structure. We have a structured game plan which is basically a tool for the girls to use. But if they want to go away from that, I don't mind as long as they start with the structure as a platform."
The Wildfires will be up against a Rats pack led by Wallaroos prop Emily Robinson.
"Their strengths are their forward pack and out on the edges," Saunders said. "Emily Robinson is playing from all accounts but I have confidence in our girls and their scrummaging.
"Our focus this week has been on body height - taking the ball up into contact, at the ruck and in defence with our tackling. We have lapsed a little bit in that area."
The Wildfiires backline is unchanged. Sian Filipo remains at fly-half and will be opposite a familiar face in former Hunter and NSW Waratahs backline linchpin Katrina Barker.
"Sian did a good job against Easts," Saunders said. "Because she plays Aussie touch her communication is very good and she can see space before everyone else does."
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