Forget the fact that the Wildfires had a limited preparation and a lack of high-profile stars.

"There is so much talent in the Hunter, it's ridiculous," Louden said ahead of Southern Districts' clash with the Wildfires at Forshaw Park on Saturday.

Louden spent four years in Newcastle, steering Wanderers to a premiership in 2014.

The career coach also oversaw an Emerging Wildfires program in 2015. The six-week intensive program, which included four games against National Rugby Championship development squads, was designed to give Hunter players a taste of rugby at the next level.

Louden, who has been an assistant coach at the NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels, returned to Sydney in 2017 to take over West Harbour, taking a handful of players with him, before joining Southern Districts this season.

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"I think it is great that the Wildfires are involved in the Shute Shield," Louden said. "It has been much needed for a long time. We all know there has been a well-worn path from Newcastle down to Sydney.

"As long as the local club system stays healthy and they keep feeding players through, it will be really good. It obviously creates a pathway so locals can aspire to that premiership level.

"The big thing about the Sydney club competition is that everyone plays a different style. It gives players exposure to a different type of rugby at an extra level. We were trying to get that going ages ago, so hats off."

The Wildfires sit in 11^th spot, four places below Southern Districts, and are fresh from a breakthrough 28-15 win over Western Sydney. Southern Districts were overpowered 56-21 by leaders Gordon last round.

"I can say this on behalf of all the other coaches down here, no-one underestimates the Wildfires," said Louden, who lives in Wollongong and commutes to Sydney. "That is the biggest compliment you can give them.

"They really have a dig and also have some x-factor. I look at Brendan Holliday at ten, he has been a standout performer up there for years. The one I really rate is Nimi Qio on the wing. If you look at that team, on their day they can do anything."

Southern Districts have welcomed back NSW Waratah front-rowers Andrew Tuala, Joe Cotton Tetera Faulkner in recent weeks. Faulkner starts on the bench behind Tim Metcher.

Tuala was one of the players who followed Louden to Sydney from Newcastle.

Coleman has adopted a similar tactic, leaving former Canberra Vikings tighthead Nick Dobson on the bench as a fresh reserve.

The starting pack is unchanged after getting the job done against a big and physical Western Sydney.

"Southern Districts have the best front-row in the comp," Wildfires coach Scott Coleman said. "Our scrum has been going well and we need to aim up again."

However, Coleman has made two changes to the backline.

Chase Hicks comes in at outside centre for Carl Manu, who broke his arm in the win over the Two Blues, and Hamish McKie has been promoted onto the right wing.

"Hamish has been pushing hard for the past four weeks and deserves his chance," Coleman said. "He was a fresh reserve last week and he came on when we lost Carl after 30 minutes and did everything right.

"He has been in the gym since last season and has put on five kilograms. He hyper-extended his elbow a few weeks ago but has played on. The bye gave him a chance to rest it and he was strong against Western Sydney. His is good finisher but his best asset is his defensive reads."

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