Basically, it gives both outfits something to play for in the final round.

It’s not uncommon – in any given sport – to see a late-season clash between two sides that can’t make the finals peter out into nothingness, but Reith says that won’t be the case at Orange Hockey Centre on Saturday.

”Ex-Services will be there to win, and we will too,” Reith said, simply.

“Ex-Services will be very motivated to finish the season on a positive the same way we are, so we have to be respectful and ready to play for the entire 70 minutes.

“A local derby’s a great way to finish the season, for both sides, they’re always competitive and it’s great for the local hockey community as well.”

In a big boost, for the first time in recent memory Confederates will be at full-strength.

Or, rather, as close to as possible considering the season-ending injuries Grace Evans and Rachel Pengilly have suffered will keep them sidelined.

“Grace and Rach are out, but as far as I know that’s it, we’ll be at full strength otherwise. The first and last games we’ve had a cast of thousands,” Reith said.

Confederates claimed the two sides’ mid-season encounter, winning 3-nil although that scoreline didn’t really reflect the arm-wrestle it was born from.

Ex-Services’ experience served them well in that game and that’s what Reith pointed to when asked of the blue and golds’ danger areas.

“They have a lot of experienced players and I expect they will be dangerous,” she said.

“We’ll have to play what’s in front of us as far as the game goes. We’re keen to throw the ball around and support the carrier too, and the focus needs to be on the good, old basics.

“If we do that well we should be able to finish very happy with how we’ve adjusted to the competition this year, and we’ll look forward to doing it all again next season."

The clash won't have any bearing on the competition’s top four and Ex-Services can’t move from seventh either – barring a monstrous Lithgow Zig Zag win – but Confederates can still jump up one more spot.

They sit sixth and trail Bathurst Souths by two points. A win combined with a Souths loss to heavyweights Lithgow Panthers would push the side up to fifth, making their finish slightly more respectable.

Saturday’s derby is the last of two games at Orange Hockey Centre, and kicks off at 3.20pm.

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