But rest assured, the end goal hasn’t changed.

Why would it, considering Orange’s 21-year dynasty was brought to an end by Bathurst last year?

If anything, as you’d probably expect, it’s made the side hungrier to reclaim the trophy that it had a stranglehold on for so long.

“We’ve spoken about that loss and credit to the girls here, they all said Bathurst outplayed them in that final and deserved to win. But don’t worry, they’re all very, very determined to win that trophy back too,” the Thunder’s new coach Linda Macleod said.

“We’ve spoken about where we need to improve from that loss and what we need to do, even though I won’t give any of that away here, it is a bit of a new era and it’s very exciting, it’s a new challenge for Orange.”

Bathurst’s side will be laced with talent although Macleod admitted she doesn’t know a lot about the defending champions.

Fortunately, she’ll get a fair indication of what Bathurst will bring to the table in its title defence considering Orange’s first game on Sunday is a blockbuster rematch of last year’s decider.

“I don’t know much about the Bathurst side at all, so that’s one of my biggest jobs I think, this weekend, is keeping an eye on Bathurst,” she said.

“We haven’t played together yet. We’ve had a couple of training sessions together though, and this weekend will be a good way to come together on the court and see where we are.”

Macleod, a long-time Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) mentor and former NSW under-17 and opens coach, linked with Orange after a long playing and coaching career in Dubbo.

“I don’t live in Dubbo anymore, I’m in Gulgong and Dubbo didn’t have a team in division one of the Regional League last year, although they do this year,” Macleod said.

“The opportunity came up and I though it’d be a great new challenge for me. I’m looking forward to it.”

The likes of Tegan Dray, Erin Johnstone, Abby Tilburg, Emily Brisbane and Danielle Turner have no shortage of Regional League experience and will prop up the Thunder squad, while Caitlyn Harvey and Lucy Brisbane have both found their feet in recent seasons too.

Tash Rudd, Emily Neal and Erin Turner round out the squad, and there’s no denying their ability either.

The Thunder’s mouth-watering rematch of last year’s decider against Bathurst kicks off at 9am on Sunday morning.

The Thunder will then face Orange’s under 17s in round two, an outfit Macleod labelled “a gun side” that “won’t need anyone to take them lightly”, from 11.20am.

Orange’s top side rounds out the opening day of play against Dubbo’s under 21s outfit, at 1.40pm.