The reigning champions haven’t suffered a first-week finals exit since 2013 – that year the Bathurst side went down 3-2 to Souths – but with CYMS fielding a full-strength outfit including former Hockeyroo Jade Georgiou and Canberra Strikers skipper Meredith Bone, that streak may be snapped this weekend.

For Bone, Saturday’s semi-final will mark her first game for her junior club in a few weeks.

In fact this time last weekend she was sipping cocktails in Singapore with her twin sister, Hockeyroos star Eddie Bone, following Australia’s World Cup campaign in England.

“We caught up with her in Singapore and I’ve been travelling for a few weeks,” Meredith said.

“I think the last game I played was against Bathurst City in Bathurst.

“It’s going to be interesting. We got away with a point that day after scoring quite late.

“That sort of helped us stay in the top four.”

Luci Ferguson scored a last-gasp equaliser in that draw, a 3-all stalemate and that’s a result that gives the green and golds plenty of confidence leading into their finals campaign, which comes in their first year back in the competition.

“[Bathurst City are] definitely going to be tough. They’ve had a lot of players return and with all of those girls back we’ll need to be on top of our game to get a result,” Bone said.

Bone said she’s been impressed with the depth at her club, which has been stretched over the course of the final few rounds.

Injury, representative commitments and unavailability stalled CYMS’ bid for a top-two finish during that time but a place in the finals has Pete Shea’s girls keen to perform.

CYMS takes on Bathurst City from 3.20pm, with minor premiers Bathurst St Pat’s playing Lithgow Panthers in the major semi-final.