Please note tomorrow's TAC Cup match has been relocated to Blacktown International Sports Park from 11.30am.

The NSW/ACT Rams will face their toughest test yet when they host the Calder Cannons at Blacktown on Saturday morning.

The match will see the Rams come up against the Cannons, who sit in equal top-spot on the TAC Cup table.

This weekend’s match will also be the Rams’ final preparations before this year’s Under-18 National Championships, which will begin for the New South Wales team next week.

QBE Sydney Swans Academy Talent & Operations Manager Chris Smith told sydneyswans.com.au that Saturday’s match was the side’s most important this season.

“Not only is this the last game before the national carnival, it’s also against the number one TAC Cup team in the Calder Cannons,” he said.

“The Cannons have a rich history and are a very successful team and players such as Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe have come through their system.

“This is the chance for our boys to play against the best TAC Cup team before going into the Nationals, which start next week.”

Saturday’s game will be the Rams’ fifth TAC Cup game this year, and comes on the back of an impressive performance against the Bendigo Pioneers a fortnight ago, where they went down by 17 points in a close contest in Mildura.

Smith said this weekend’s match up against the Cannons, who have dropped just one game all season, would be another big test for the Rams.

“It’s a pivotal time for these boys to show what they can do,” he said.

“There’s a sense of excitement, but there is also a sense of the unknown.

“These boys haven’t been exposed to this standard of competition on a week in, week out basis for almost ten years.

“Based on the way they’ve been training and their form in the four or five games leading into this game, I think they are quietly confident.”

Smith encouraged Swans fans to arrive early on Saturday to check out the up-and-coming talent on show from the Swans Academy.

“There are a number of players to watch in this match, and the obvious one is Isaac Heeney, who will captain the side this week,” he said.

“There are also other Swans Academy boys including Abe Davis, Jordan Foote and Jack Hiscox who are impressing.

“There are also other players such as Brad Watson, Nick Foster and Nathan Vaisey who have been playing extremely well over the last few weeks.

“We also should make a special mention of under-age player Callum Mills, who has also been a standout player.”

He added that the boys were thrilled about playing on the SCG, in what should be a memorable experience for both teams.

“A lot of the TAC Cup games aren’t curtain raisers anymore,” he said.

“For our boys, and for the Calder Cannons as well who will travel to Sydney as a team, to play on the SCG before a top-four AFL clash, it’s just a great experience for these kids.”

NSW/ACT Rams Team List

5 WATSON, Brad
6 FOSTER, Nicholas
9 FOOTE, Jordan
10 GRIFFITHS, Liam
11 FYFFE, Zachary
13 HISCOX, Jack
14 MATTINGLY, Michael
17 CORNELL, Jock
18 MILLS, Callum
19 HEENEY, Isaac
20 STEELE, Jack
24 JOHNS, Zach
25 VAISEY, Nathan
26 ASKEW, Sam
27 FINLAYSON, Jeremy
29 PREEN, Daniel
30 DAVIS, Abaina
33 McCAFFREY, Tom
41 FLAGG, Lachlan
43 HEBRON, Ryan
44 IRVINE, Jack
51 COENEN, Timothy
58 FLYNN, Matthew

EMERGENCIES
8 BOTTIN-NOONAN, Joel
15 CAMPBELL, Jack
38 BANCE, Charlie