SUNDAY’S blockbuster second-versus-third Group 10 premier league clash between Orange CYMS and Bathurst St Pat’s at Wade Park is all but certain to be decided through the middle third of the paddock.

As the saying goes, forwards win games and backs determine the margin.

Both packs know it too and coming off their performances last weekend the battle of the big men on Sunday is set to be a mouth-watering one, even if the home side will be without prop Cam Jones.

CYMS dominated the giant Blayney Bears pack to set the foundation for their 34-16 win while St Pat’s forwards trampled their Oberon counterparts - albeit minus former NRL star George Rose - to inspire a come-from-behind 28-24 victory.

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“St Pat’s have a big pack, they’re strong and they’ve been playing pretty good footy,” CYMS bookend Mitch Davis said.

“But we’re big and strong as well. There’s no doubt we’re better with our full prop rotation so missing Cam will hurt a bit but myself and Simon Osborne have no issues playing big minutes and we have some boys who can easily slide into the front-row if they have to.”

“I think at times in a few of the games we’ve lost, we’ve lacked a bit of confidence in the centre of the field but we’ve had some good training sessions and what we did last weekend was great for boosting that confidence level,” St Pat’s front-rower Brady Cheshire said.

“CYMS are a big team, too, with a lot of experience in their forward pack. If we play like we did in the second half against Oberon, though, I think we will take them.”

Davis, a multiple Group 9 premiership winner with Albury Thunder, said he’ll relish the challenge of shutting down St Pat’s roll-on.

“I just want to be out there playing as much as I can,” he enthused.

“For us we need to be getting some momentum, running in numbers, none of that one-out stuff.”

If they can do that, the green and golds’ classy outside men will get every opportunity to capitalise.

For CYMS, Jones will miss the clash after picking up an ankle injury last weekend while captain-coach Mick Sullivan is also under a small injury cloud.

The two sides have almost identical records leading into Sunday’s round nine clash, boasting five wins apiece, but CYMS’ draw against Bathurst Panthers leaves the green and golds one point clear of the Saints.

CYMS haven’t tasted defeat since going down to Oberon in round one while the last loss St Pat’s suffered was in round six against Blayney.

Kick-off at Wade Park is at 2.30pm.

ORANGE CYMS: 1 Ben McAlpine, 2 Semisi Katoa, 3 Todd Murphy, 4 Rob Mortimer, 5 Dylan Wood, 6 Matt Morris, 7 Mick Sullivan, 8 Simon Osborne, 9 Toby Westcott, 10 Mitch Davis, 11 Brock McGarity, 12 Larsen Marabe, 13 Tim Mortimer