The two blues play host to Orange Ex Services this Saturday at Cooke Hockey Complex, chasing more of the top-notch defence which earned them the recent 1-nil result in their favour.

That same scoreline was the one Ex-Services finished with in their opening round game, except they were on the wrong side of it when the full-time whistle sounded to end the contest with CYMS.

With that in mind Souths coach Chris Stafford expects Orange to be fired up on their return from the Easter break.

"They're always a really handy side. They've obviously lost a few players over the past few years, especially when CYMS came back into it, but it's hard to get a read on anything at the moment," he said.

"We haven't had the chance to see either CYMS or Ex Services. We played them at the gala day but you can never read too much into that."

There's a stack of returning talent in this Saturday's Souths line-up.

"We've got a few things we're trying to work on so we'll try and work on that and treat this like a whole new start to the season," Stafford said.

"There's a few players coming back in so things will change up a little bit.

"Mandy George is in, so is Sophie Macauley. Charlize Fitzpatrick is in for her first game after being away with the under 15s state side. It's great having them back in the team."

Saturday's match gets underway from 3.15pm.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon CYMS will face-off with Bathurst City in a clash of the heavyweights and a rematch of last year's minor semi-final, from 1.50pm at Cooke Hockey Complex, while Confederates will take on Lithgow Panthers at Lithgow from 2.40pm.