WANDERERS coach Luke Sherwood conceded that it "hurt" the Two Blues when former NSW Waratahs and Samoan hooker Andrew Tuala answered an SOS from the Hunter Wildfires.
Tuala spent the opening six weeks of the season with the Wildfires after injuries to their senior hookers Bruce Kauika-Petersen and Phil Bradford.
Work commitments and a foot injury have also limited Tuala's impact for Wanderers.
However, the man known as AT is ready to fire in the finals.
Tuala will spearhead a monster Two Blues pack in the elimination final against Maitland at No.2 Sportsground on Sunday.
"AT is an influential player and definitely lifts everyone around him," Sherwood said. "His experience and his talk, especially with the forwards around set piece is invaluable.
"With his ball carries, it takes three or four defenders to pull him down. When you drag that many defenders into a ruck and get quick ball, it opens up opportunities for us.
"When he went back to the Wildfires it hurt us a little bit, but we got a prop, Ryan Neilson, from them. It worked for us on that front."
Neilson suffered an ankle injury and Tuala missed three games with plantar fasciitis.
Both played off the bench in the 36-32 win over Hamilton in the final round.
"AT is lacking a bit of match fitness, but he is a proven big-game player," Sherwood said. "We have seen it at training this week. He has a different edge to him."
Maitland coach Luke Cunningham admitted that Wanderers were far more formidable with Tuala involved.
"When someone like him comes back from the level he has played, it gives everyone around him a confidence boost." Cunningham said. "His experience also keeps them on the straight and narrow with regard to what they want to do as a team. We will have to contain him."
Apart from Tuala, the new halves pairing of Pat Sarungallo and flyhalf Johnty Pettet will be crucial.
Thrust into the spotlight after injuries to Charlie Fielder and Jed Englert, the new combination has flourished.
"We have had a few injuries, but the guys who have come in have really stepped up," Sherwood said.
"Patty is like an extra back-rower. He is a great defender, gets over the ball and is hard to move.
"Johnty has a great boot on him. If he can get us into the right areas of the field, it will go a long way to helping us succeed."
Maitland won both previous encounters against Wanderers this season and finished third on the table, 22 points more than Wanderers.
However, Cunningham knows that will mean little in the must-win showdown on Sunday.
"It is a semi-final and I have learnt that results from the past mean nothing," he said. "Wanderers have been the big improvers over the past few rounds.
"We had to score and kick a conversion after the bell to beat them a month ago. We are certainly not taking it lightly or using previous results as a gauge.
"They have a big pack that can do some damage. A strong set piece and a couple of guys out wide who can be dangerous with the footy."
Maitland will be without Italian No.8 Leo Semenzato (cheekbone) while Beau Gerrard (hamstring) and captain Sam Callow (knee) are in doubt.
Gerrard has been named at No.8, while Callow faces a fitness test.
"The boys who will take the field have all played plenty of first grade this year. The same expectation will be on those guys to do the job," Cunningham said.
"We have a team run on Saturday and will get a gauge on Callow then. He has done some heavy work at training and pulled up great. He has also done some light stuff and been tender and sore the next day. It is one of those management things."
There have been no injury concerns for Merewether and University, who will meet in the major semi-final at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday.
The Students have been the surprise packets and will be out to secure a place in the grand final for the first time since 2008.
University beat the Greens 38-33 when both teams were without six players each at a NSW Country Cockatoos camp.
Merewether are back to full tilt, with Tom Jackson returning at lock, Such is their strength Lachie Milton and Noah Jackson will play second grade.
