Matt Boss gears up to tackle former NRL half Jack Littlejohn

The returning Orange Hawks half will line-up against Mudgee's star captain-coach on Sunday at Glen Willow, the unbeaten two blues set to tackle the ladder-leading Dragons in an early season litmus test for both squads.

But for Boss, Sunday's match-up against the high-flying Mudgee club presents the 23-year-old pivot with a chance to tackle a player he grew up hearing plenty about - whether he wanted to or not.

"I've seen a lot of him, my brother (Daniel) is a Tigers fan and raved about him there for a while," Boss said, Littlejohn spending two seasons at the Tigers.

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"It's not often get chance to come up against someone with NRL experience let alone someone in the same position, so it's going to be a good challenge."

Another good challenge, that is.

Hawks have been tested throughout the early parts of the 2019 season but have come away from tough road trips to Lithgow and Cowra, a side that featured in last year's grand final, with maximum points.

Another challenge awaits at Glen Willow, Boss says, but he's backing the two blues defence to stand up and be counted.

Hawks have conceded just 24 points in two games to boast the best defence in Group 10 so far.

"Lithgow probably scored two lucky tries and Cowra, in the heat, I thought we defended really well," Boss said looking back at his side's 21-14 win at Sid Kallas Oval.

"Our attack's not there yet but it's only early. I'll just do my part and take pressure off Willie (Heta). He's a class player and any help I can give him will help the team. We're coming along nicely."

Boss burst on to the scene at Hawks in 2012 when he debuted in the top grade at 16 but spent the last three seasons playing with Berkeley in the Illawarra League while he studied at university.

He returned home to Orange this season to work and has been impressed with how things are shaping up at Hawks under the guidance of Heta.

And the message around the two blues camp is pretty clear.

"We want to win the comp. It's pretty simple," Boss said.

"I've been really impressed with way club is working at the moment. With the players we've got here, we're a definite chance."

Hawks tackle the Dragons in five grades - under 18s league tag, league tag, under 18s, first division and premier league - from 10am.

Premier league is scheduled to kick-off at 2.15pm.