IT’S been six weeks since Orange Ex-Services have tasted defeat in the 2015 women’s Premier League Hockey competition.

And coming off a 5-nil thrashing of Bathurst St Pat’s, arguably the blue and golds’ best performance of the season, it’s doesn’t take a hockey aficionado to work out Ex-Services is a side warming to the task, one capable of seriously contending for the 2015 premiership.

Mel Woods is of a similar opinion.

“I think we’ve got the team to go all the way,” Woods said.

“But I think if you asked any team in the top five at this stage of the season they’ll all think the same thing about their own chances.

“We know if we want to do well we’re going to have to work for it.

“Nothing is going to come easy.”

And Ex-Services will find out just how tough the path to the top in 2015 is when they tackle Panthers in Lithgow today.

Undoubtedly the best side in the competition, Panthers boast a rare mix of speed and power across the field, and Woods  is tipping the Servies girls to be sternly tested when the two clash today at the foot of the mountains.

“They’re such an experienced side,” she said.

“We know we’re going to have to be individually on top of our games to compete with Lithgow, and then come together as a team as well.”

Coming together as a team doesn’t seem like it’ll be a problem though.

Woods is one of a host of girls who made the move to Ex-Services from the now defunct Kinross-CYMS outfit, and she’s loved every minute of it with her new team.

“I feel fantastic and the team has made me feel really comfortable, and they’re a great group of girls,” Woods said.

“We’ve been training hard and getting everyone to training, which has really helped.”

Ex-Services tackle Panthers at 3.50pm.