Phoenix have played just once after six rounds due to ongoing wet weather. Maitland, on the other hand, have been building momentum with an unbeaten run in four outings. The game is at 7pm.

**Weston assistant coach Anthony Richards praised the efforts of Bears junior Ben Clouten, who he said "held his own" when he made his first-grade debut in a 2-1 loss to Maitland at Weston on Saturday.

Clouten started at No.6 in what was "a big initiation" against the Magpies. Defender Jackson Taylor, also a Weston junior, made his first-grade debut off the bench. The match was the Bears' second of the season.

They host Lambton, who have also only played twice, on Good Friday (2pm).

**Newcastle Football chairman Steve Cucumanovski hopes other footballing bodies will follow suit after they banded together with Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football to donate a collective $30,000 to Football Far North Coast, who have been hard hit by the recent floods. They hope the money can be used towards junior registrations.

"We just want kids to play football and a lot of parents are doing it really tough up there," he said. "We're hoping through the three zones we can put some smiles on their young faces."

Last week, NNSW Football announced their Flood Recovery Package, worth more than $130,000 in value, to help clubs replace essential equipment and support families facing financial hardship cover junior registration fees.

The far northeast of NSW experienced its worst ever flooding in late February. Twelve clubs affiliated with Football Far North Coast and North Coast Football were affected by flooding.