But, now, Orange Hawks has a date to use as motivation throughout what is shaping up as a crucial and grueling pre-season to eradicate the memory of that 88-0 shellacking at the hands of Orange CYMS – the single biggest blow-out in a derby this century.

The Group 10 draw was released on Tuesday, revealing the first all-Orange derby to be in round five – a Hawks home game – at Wade Park on Sunday, May 6.

It’s not the opening round blockbuster both clubs had hoped for, but the week five meeting gives the two sides plenty of time to warm into the season – in all four grades.

Not that any game in 2017 will be easy.

CYMS take on Bathurst St Pat’s in the opening round of the season – on April 9 – at Wade Park, while Hawks travel to Oberon to meet the Luke Branighan coached Tigers.

From there, CYMS host early season favourites Bathurst Panthers, enjoy a bye, then travel Cowra to take on the Magpies.

Across town, the two blues travel to Blayney in round two, host defending premiers Mudgee in round three before facing Panthers in the lead-up to the first derby of 2017.

Newly appointed two blues captain-coach Willie Heta has already circled the date in his calendar, with Hawks’ biggest signing keen to turn his side’s fortunes around in the all-Orange encounter.

“Obviously it’s been an on-going thing for a number of years, so it’s going to be good to be part of it,” Heta said.

“Hopefully results go our way throughout the whole year, not just against them.”

There’s one match-up in particular Heta is looking forward to as well, as much as an outside back enjoys lining up against a prop anyway.

“I know one of the players in their side, Mitch Davis,” Heta grins, the pair won three premierships together with Group 9 powerhouse Albury Thunder from 2012-1014.

“It’s going to be good to have a run against him, finally. We had three years together at Albury, so it’ll be good to see him again.”

After last season’s thrilling 14-10 grand final win over CYMS, Mudgee begins its premiership defence against the Magpies in Cowra.

Glen Willow will host the Dragons for the first time since Jared Robinson lifted the Western Challenge Cup when St Pat’s travel to Mudgee in round two, April 16.

The Carrington Park faithful won’t have to wait long to catch a glimpse of Todd Barrow’s new-look Panthers, with Lithgow to hit Bathurst in both sides’ opening fixture.

Blayney has the bye first-up, but begins it’s campaign the following week against the two blues at King George Oval.

The grand final rematch is in round six, at Glen Willow.

The finals begin on August 20, with the 2017 grand final set down for Sunday, September 10.