Orange CYMS rocketed into the Group 10 premier league top four after last weekend's hammering of Blayney and with Oberon decimated by injury and suspension Sunday's clash against the Tigers is a golden opportunity for Dom Maley's side to solidify their standing.
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Injury woes were already an issue for the Tigers and they've been compounded by the suspension of captain-coach Josh Starling and halfback Matt Ranse, so much so the former hadn't been able to confirm his starting side at time of publication.
Starling and Ranse were both sent-off following a melee in the Tigers' 44-point loss to Mudgee last weekend and after both taking the early guilty plea, they were suspended for four weeks and one week respectively.
We're still expecting a really tough battle against a side that needs to win, the same way we do.
- CYMS captain-coach Dom Maley
Mudgee's Nick Harvey was handed a month-long ban for his role in the stoush too.
With Abel Lefaoseu also confirmed to be sidelined this weekend, not through suspension, the fifth-placed Tigers will be devoid of some serious star power at Wade Park on Sunday.
As you'd expect Maley said his side's gunning to take full advantage too, even if he's hopeful his troops won't risk underestimating the embattled, weakened Tigers.
"Obviously those three are pretty big outs but we're still expecting a really tough battle against a side that needs to win, the same way we do," Maley said, when asked if Oberon's losses will make his side's job easier.
"They're on 10 points and equal with us in those terms so they're in much the same boat, the exact same boat really, and looking at that table there's five sides that are realistically fighting it out for the last two finals spots.
"With Cowra, Lithgow and (Bathurst) St Pat's all a couple of points behind us, well, five doesn't go into two does it?
"Last week's win over Blayney was really important for us, in terms of points difference too, and this is an important one too."
The green and golds being "probably as strong as we'll be" obviously isn't lost on Maley either, he actually confirmed this is the first time all year he's been able to name an unchanged side from one week to the next.
"It's nice to not have any injuries and i think that will be a big thing in us getting some consistency," Maley said.
"We have been inconsistent so far this year and I guess we're in a pretty position being fourth considering that, being able to field the same side will hopefully give us the chance to put together a few more performances like our better ones from this year, the way we played against Cowra and Oberon last time too both come to mind."
Premier league is scheduled to kick-off at 2.15pm at Wade Park.
- ORANGE CYMS: 1 Lachie Munro, 2 Travis Adelehorf, 3 Dom Maley, 4 Ben McAlpine, 5 Jacob Sutherland, 6 Steve Morris, 7 Luke Petrie, 8 Cam Jones, 9 Ryan Griffin, 10 Joseph Ualesi, 11 Chris Grevsmuhl, 12 Ethan Bereyne, 13 Tim Mortimer; Bench: 14 Joe Duffy, 15 Tyrone Harrison, 16 Robbie Mortimer
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