Especially considering there’s a very real chance the competition lead will be on the line too.

CYMS still sit on top of the table despite losing to Bathurst Panthers while Hawks only slipped as far as third with last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Lithgow Workies, and they’re just one point adrift of the green and golds.

If Panthers happen to lose to Oberon – that’s at Oberon too – then the winner of Sunday’s sixth round derby at Wade Park will take top spot, regardless of other results.

In fact, including Panthers, all three sides could realistically be on top of the table come Sunday night.

“Top spot’s probably on offer, I think that’s more than enough added spice even if both sides aren’t undefeated anymore,” CYMS player-coach Mick Sullivan said.

“Hawks have probably been on the wrong end of these derbies, score-wise, the last couple of years and they’ll be fired-up, ready to go.

“For us this derby is probably coming at the right time. We’ve been winning but we haven’t been winning well, we’ve been sluggish starting but, hopefully, we shouldn’t need any help getting up for a derby.”

On the wrong side is right, Hawks haven’t beaten CYMS since round 10 of 2014.

But this is a very different Hawks side to the outfits of recent years, it seems, although last weekend’s loss to Lithgow Workies could suggest the two blues still have as tendency to wane in games they should win.

Sullivan, who admitted his own side’s loss last week to Panthers was a disappointing one, said he’s not reading into Hawks’ 44-16 defeat, not at all.

“From all reports it was a really tough game and the Hawks boys lost Brodie Christopherson to injury and then Nathan Potts, that one’s been well-documented, and were carrying a couple of other injuries as well and at the end it just got away from them,” Sullivan said.

“It’s not easy in that situation and I’m sure (Hawks captain-coach) Willie (Heta) thinks the same way I do in that every loss is disappointing, but I’m not paying too much attention to theirs. Ours, well, they frustrated us a bit defensively and it was definitely a game that got away.”

Although he was keen to no dwell on it too much, Heta wasn’t quite as diplomatic about his side’s loss.

“There’s a big difference between a good loss and a bad one, and we had a really bad one last week,” he said.

“Our attitude was poor, which was the most disappointing part. Being our first home game we should have delivered a better brand of footy.”

He’s certain Sunday’s derby is the perfect time to readjust that attitude, return to the winners’ circle and score a landmark win against his club’s cross-city rivals.

“It doesn’t take much to get up for this one. It couldn’t have come at a better time. We don’t want to fall into a hole,” Heta said, before talking about his side’s recent turnaround.

“We weren’t expecting to go through undefeated, but if we can grab that two points this week that’ll mean a lot to the boys.”

“I think we’re a different team to where we were last year. I’ve got a better understanding of each individual this season.

“I reckon having that one year experience for myself (makes a difference) It’s a stepping stone for the club. Prep in the pre-season has been better and that’s taken us to a new level and paying dividends this season.”

After last week the key for Hawks is undeniably shoring up their defensive line, while Sullivan said his outfit will need to avoid another slow start, as he mentioned earlier.

“Scoring first would be a great start for us,” he said.

“It’s a pretty dreary atmosphere behind the posts when you’ve conceded first and I think we’ve been in that position our last four games.”

Sunday’s derby kicks off at 2pm at Wade Park, the day will kick-off with league tag at 10.30am.

That game itself will be a mouth-watering encounter too, with CYMS sitting second leading in and Hawks well-placed as well in fourth.

The two Orange clubs are both in the top five in under 18s and first division as well, they kick-off at 11.30am and 12.45pm respectively, signalling a mouth-watering derby day at Wade Park.