THERE was bad news and still more bad news for Murwillum- bah Mustangs coach Troy McLean in the lead-up to this afternoon's Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League game against Cudgen Hornets at Ned Byrne Field, Kingscliff, from 3.45pm.

McLean learned early in the week that classy custodian Ryan O'Connell would miss two matches due to a hamstring strain sustained in last week's 64-4 turkey shoot against a shell-shocked Kyogle Turkeys.

“That was disappointing but then our big prop, Lynden Murphy, let me know that he wouldn't be available against Cudgen because of work commitments,” McLean bemoaned.

Murphy had a blinder against the Turkeys, crossing for two tries and absolutely terrorising the opposition whenever he had the ball in hand.

“Fortunately we have a fair bit of depth in the front row and I've been able to pull the experienced Brad Purtell off the bench to replace Lynden and another lump of a fella, Nathan Calista, will come in the squad,” McLean said.

McLean is also fortunate that last year's regular fullback,

Michael Ashburn, showed he had overcome a hammy problem with a solid showing in the seconds last week, and he will fill in for O'Connell.

Today's match will be a charity fundraiser for On Track, the group which does so much work for men's mental illnesses such as depression.

Cudgen will wear special jerseys during the match and they'll be auctioned in the club during the post-match drinks.

McLean wasn't at the back of the queue when footy nous was being handed out and has warned his team that the big dangerman for them today is the Hornets' wily halfback and captain-coach, Craig Field.

Field also reports a few team changes with his gun prop, Dan Donovan, fully recovered from an early season shoulder injury, pushing Djaan Jarrett onto the bench and Josh Sleba replacing the injured Tony Pamantangi in the centres.

Field made Edgar Bergen's puppetry with Charlie McCarthy look second rate as he pulled the strings to spearhead the Hornets to an impressive 40-12 win over Tweed Coast Seagulls in last week's opening round.

He's not quite up to getting the pension but this wily veteran still retains a zest for rugby league – his balls skills, kicking game and reading of play will go a long way to Cudgen holding pride of place on the scoreboard at game's end.

McLean is an unabashed admirer of Field and will be instructing his players to try and nullify his impact on the match.

“But opposing players and coaches have been trying unsuccessfully to do that for many years – fingers crossed we'll be able to do so,” McLean said.