A group littered with players that stormed to last year’s country championship with the Blue Bulls in Mudgee, the Central West Invitational outfit will tackle the might of the charity-minded Deadwood club on Saturday at Endeavour Oval for the second annual match in Orange.

Furthering the invitational nature of the match, the Orange City co-coaches have named Orange Hawks’ Brock McGarity, Joe Lasagavibau and Jared Brodrick in the squad.

“It’s an invitational team, so we thought why not give them a go,” Gray said.

“Everyone named in the group is going to get a good run.”

Having trained for the first time last night at Pride Park, a large majority of the squad is based on the championship-winning Blue Bulls of 2014 - with Roos’ standout hooker Peter Nau and fullback Scott Burgess, both Country Cockatoos, named to play in Saturday’s charity match.

“Most of the guys have been really keen,” Gray added.

“Steve went to the Country Eagles game in Dubbo on Saturday and was able to talk to most of the Dubbo guys and the Parkes guys were keen as well.”

Gray said the invitation was extended to Bathurst Bulldogs guns Hayden Tidswell (injury), Tom Hollis (work) and Chris Plunkett (work), but all three were unavailable.

He was, however, still confident of a strong showing come 3.30pm on Saturday.

“The Central West squad that won the championships last year was a good starting point for us,” Gray said.

“And from there we’ve pieced it together.”

The match will follow a rugby clinic, run by the Deadwood club, at Endeavour Oval from 10am on Saturday.

With places still available, the clinic will begin at 10am and costs $40. 

The match will kick off at 3.30pm.

CENTRAL WEST INVITATIONAL: Scott Smith (Orange City), Josh Tremain (Orange City), Amoni Vea (Parkes), Dan Ryan (Parkes), Peter Nau (Dubbo Roos), Duncan Young (Orange City), Brad Pugh (Dubbo Roos), Ben Ryan (Parkes), Mitch Pearce (Orange City), James Elliot (Dubbo Roos), Chris Senior (Orange City), Keith Howarth (Orange Emus), Chris Hayes (Molong), Josh Griffiths (Orange Emus), Mahe Fangupo (Parkes), Scott Burgess (Dubbo Roos), Tom Green (Orange Emus), Mesui Lemoto (Orange City), Lachy Harris (Orange Emus), Cam Cole (Orange City), Sam Powell (Orange City), Tom Nell (Orange City), Brad Collins (Dubbo Roos), James Mata (Dubbo Roos), Max Ma’Nelson (Dubbo Roos), Joe Lasagavibau (Orange Hawks), Brock McGarity (Orange Hawks), Jared Brodrick (Orange Hawks).