VIDEO: Hawks to tackle Lithgow in must-win clash for Orange side

THERE’S not a lot left for Orange Hawks to play for other than pride for the rest of the 2015 Group 10 season.

And hooker Matt Boss is hoping the two blues can instill plenty back into the Hawks jumper when they tackle the finals-bound Lithgow Workies at Tony Luchetti Sportsground tomorrow.

“We’ve got three games left,” Boss began.

“We’re going into each game confident we can win. We’re going to be giving it 100 per cent effort anyway.

“Heads were down after last week’s loss to Mudgee, but we’ve had a good week at training and everyone is ready for Lithgow.”

Albeit slight, there’s still a chance Hawks can make this year’s play-offs.

Hawks (12 points, -156) need to win by a healthy margin in each of the next three games, while the fifth-placed St Pat’s (18 points, +37) must lose each of the next three weeks, and then drop the postponed snow clash with Lithgow, for the two blues to cap the unlikeliest of finals berths.

VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Nick McGrath preview this weekend's games:

But faced with Workies and brothers Jono and Brendon Van Veen, who scored six tries between them in Lithgow’s big win over Oberon last week, and Hawks aren’t counting on conjuring up any miracles.

“They’re a big pack and they’ve got plenty of strike in the forwards,” Boss said.

“If we can slow them down then that’ll go a long way towards helping us with the game.”

Slowing down a Lithgow pack that boasts a steady wave of big men looked a nigh on impossible task earlier in the week given both Mitch Davis (hip) and Deryne McKenzie (knee) failed to finish the 40-10 defeat against the Dragons.

But Boss said both have pulled up fine and should take their place in the Hawks side for tomorrow’s clash.

“There were a few sore bodies after last week but the boys are looking forward to these next three games.” 

Orange Hawks tackle Workies tomorrow at Lithgow’s Tony Luchetti Sportsground from 2pm.