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INJURIES will force Macquarie Scorpions coach Barrie Moore to delay naming his team for the Newcastle rugby league qualifying semi-final against South Newcastle on Sunday.
On Saturday, Macquarie were defeated 36-30 by Cessnock in an entertaining end to the regular season at Cessnock Sportsground.
The loss cost Macquarie any chance of stealing the minor premiership from Wests, and instead saw the Toronto club slip to third on the pointscore ladder.
Injuries to key forwards Blake Gallen (arm) and Adam Swadling (quad) have compounded the damage.
Macquarie football secretary Steve Woodbridge said the Scorpions seemed on track early against Cessnock.
"After a very bright start to the game where the Scorpions jumped to a 12-nil lead after only 10 minutes, the momentum swung back to Cessnock after injuries to Adam Swadling and Blake Gallen forced them to leave the field," Woodbridge said.
"This disrupted the Scorpions' play for a period of time and left them with a depleted reserve bench for most of the game.
"Cessnock took advantage of this and at one stage jumped to a 36-18 lead deep into the second half."
Macquarie had a chance to level the scores late in the game when winger Liam Mecham was knocked into touch while attempting to cross in the corner.
Woodbridge said Swadling and Gallen are in doubt for Sunday's match at Townson Oval.
"Fullback Nathan Cantor, front-rower Blake Chaffey and centre Shane Beale are also nursing injuries from the game," he said.
"Barrie [Moore] said he will not be in a position to finalise a team until later in the week after all the injuries have been assessed."
The winner of Sunday's showdown will take on Wests in the grand-final qualifier.
The loser will meet the winner of Saturday's elimination semi-final between Central Newcastle and Cessnock.