Where would rugby league in this country be without NSW against Queensland? Would cricket even exist without the Ashes?

The Central West Rugby Union is no different.

But the top tier has been void of some of its best clashes since the rugby world in this region switched to two, five-team competitions at the start of the 2018 season.

No Bathurst Bulldogs versus CSU Bathurst, anymore. There's no Parkes up against Forbes either.

And the Mark Melville Cup will have to sit on a shelf somewhere in Dubbo for the foreseeable future with Roos and Rhinos living life in different competitions.

The derby has all but bitten the dust.

There is one left, though.

Orange Emus, the defending Blowes Clothing Cup champions, up against the Lions from Orange City, a side that's battled for the last couple of seasons but one that's proudly taken the fight up to those in the top tier.

In short: Emus a juggernaut, City a club on the mend.

That's been the narrative for the last couple of years anyway.

The story this year, though, looks like it's shaping up a little differently.

The Greens head into Saturday's derby on the back of a two straight losses, which is a stumble the club's first grade side hasn't experienced since winning the wooden spoon in 2013.

They've been the model of consistency since. Grand final appearances every year since 2014, three crowns in there as well.

The key to it all? The defending champions usually bolt out of the blocks.

Last year they were Usain. Catch us if you can.

This year they're more Wile E. Coyote - we're all just waiting for the chase to become too much. They'll fall off the cliff and vanish in a puff of dust.

With Emus in third, this is City's chance. It has to be.

It's always easier said than done.

Emus' run of derby dominance stretches nine games, their stretch of wins kicking off in the 2015 major semi-final, a 34-26 thriller.

That bottler set the tone for some seriously thrilling encounters in the year to come but since the start of 2017 the Orange rivalry has been all Emus - in a big way too.

But Saturday can be different.

Sure, the Lions are still searching for that maiden win in 2019 but a new coach, a swag of new players ... Saturday can be that day. The Lions' day.

There's no better time.

There's no better game than a derby.

CITY - 33-10, rd 9, 2015

CITY - 34-26, rd 18 2015

EMUS - 30-12, major semi-final 2015

EMUS - 31-15, grand final 2015

EMUS - 25-17, rd 8, 2016

EMUS - 17-12, rd 17, 2016

EMUS - 46-12, rd 5, 2017

EMUS - 58-7, rd 15 2017

EMUS - 33-10, rd 1, 2018

EMUS - 40-5, rd 6, 2018

EMUS - 71-7, rd 11, 2018