ORANGE Emus co-coach Matt Greatbatch has urged his players to be wary of a wounded Orange City ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Blowes Menswear Cup local derby at Pride Park.

Greatbatch admitted Emus’ comprehensive 25-8 Anzac Day local derby win over Orange City would be of little significance, preferring to dismiss all prior results for both clubs as a reliable form assessment.

“Whoever plays their best footy on the weekend will come away with the results, you can’t take anything out of past results as local derbies are so different, everyone grows a third leg,” Greatbatch said.

Both sides have injury concerns with key players, with Greatbatch unsure of the fitness of Emus’ fly-half Andrew Swain and prop John Ellis.

“We’re a bit iffy, we won’t know 100 per cent until after training,” Greatbatch said.

“Both seasons hinge on this game and to try and go up against City at (Pride Park), they’re tough at home.”

When contacted by the Central Western Daily yesterday, Orange City coach Andy Hillan was unsure as to whether fullback Ross Morrissey would be available for the clash due to injury, but named the talented playmaker and captain Nathan Short in City’s preliminary squad for tomorrow’s game.

“I think (Short) is about 90 per cent right to play, but Ross had to go to the physio (Wednesday) and he hasn’t got back to me, so I’m not too sure if he will be right at this stage,” Hillan said.

Hillan indicated Orange City’s ill discipline and poor handling in last week’s 29-7 loss to Cowra had been addressed, but offered an honest assessment of how his side would match up against their cross town rivals tomorrow.

“I think Emus are definitely favourites from what I’ve seen, they’re playing a lot better than us, that’s for sure,” Hillan said.

“If I was having a bet I’d say they would be short-priced favourites. In saying that though, we do have the fire power to win.”

In the other Blowes Menswear Cup fixtures, Bulldogs and CSU will square off in the Bathurst local derby, Dubbo ’Roos take on Forbes, Parkes play host to Cowra and competition leaders Narromine take on Dubbo Rhinos.