ORANGE Hawks captain-coach Todd Barrow is hoping key positional changes will be enough to keep his side in the hunt for a top-five finish in Group 10 when they travel to Bathurst to take on Panthers tomorrow.

Hawks will take the field with a new half, five-eighth, fullback and hooker combination from the team that lost 58-18 against Mudgee last Saturday.

Barrow, returning from NSW Country Seconds duty, will play five-eighth, shifting Kyle Byrnes to half.

Usual No.7 Joe Lasagavibau will move to fullback while, more accustomed to the back-row, Brett Morgan will fill-in at hooker.

Barrow said the changes won’t affect his side’s continuity.

“We’ll have another training run tomorrow afternoon (today). We know we have to win our last two games to make the five now,” Barrow said

“Last time we played them they (Panthers) just tried to smash it up the middle. We’ve picked Rooster (Morgan) at hooker because of that.

“I wanted a big pack and with the weather the way it is that’ll play into their hands.”

Panthers are coming off their first win of the 2010 season courtesy of a 26-10 victory over rivals Bathurst St Pat’s.

Barrow said despite the physical nature of that match, he is expecting Panthers to still be on a high.

“We were in the same position last year. We hadn’t won a game and then beat CYMS. It’s amazing what a win can do for a side. I think they’ll still be riding that,” he said.

Hawks have struggled to maintain any defensive pressure on sides in most of the Group 10 games this year.

The two blues have conceded 339 points from their 10 matches.

The only consolation for Barrow’s men is that Panthers have conceded more with 390 points.

Barrow said if his side can hold their line the pressure will get to their opponents.

“Across the park our defence has been pretty ordinary. We know we can score points we just need to contain more,” he said.

“It’ll be tough but if we can win that battle in the middle then we have the strike power out wide to take advantage.

“I know their half Trent (Hotham) has been playing pretty good footy. If we can shut him down then it’ll go a long way to winning the match.”

Kick-off is at 1.45pm at Carrington Park.

n ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Joe Lasagavibau, 2 Waisea Ratabua, 3 Vula Naqau, 4 Semisi Kotoa, 5 Alofi Mataele, 6 Todd Barrow, 7 Kyle Byrnes, 8 Evan Davis, 9 Brett Morgan, 10 Mosese Makasini, 11 Chris Anau, 12 Mick Ryan, 13 Rod Jones. Bench: 14 Peni Nayagodamo.