The seventh-placed Ex-Services face the fourth-placed Confederates in an all-Orange derby from 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon, a crucial one for both sides' campaigns.

Confederates are clinging onto a top four spot on goal difference - in a thee-way battle with Bathurst City and Souths - and with them 12 points adrift of third-placed Panthers it presents a chance to potentially claim that spot outright, and maybe eat into that margin too.

Ex-Services are six points further back and it also looms as a chance for them to make up ground on all three sides considering Souths play Panthers, although Bathurst City are expected to take care of last-placed Lithgow Zig Zag.

Meanwhile CYMS travel to Bathurst to take on reigning champions St Pat's in a battle for the outright competition lead.

After the green and golds' disappointing loss to Bathurst City last weekend they share top spot with the Saints, CYMS claiming ascendancy thanks to a superior goal difference.

CYMS hammered St Pat's the last time they met, winning 4-nil back in May, and as such Saints coach Jaden Ekert said his side has even more motivation to knock the Orange side off their perch.

"I'd expect my girls to be [fired up] if they were in their position," he said of CYMS, following last week's loss.

"We know what we're up against and that the challenge is in front of us. We have to take it head on.

"That last game against CYMS was probably our worst game of the season thus far. Everyone wanted to play them again because we knew how poorly we presented ourselves.

"When everyone is apologising after the game you know it hasn't been a good week. In saying that, we've got time for redemption. It's not so much about winning but making sure that we do the right things."

CYMS face St Pat's from 3.15pm at Bathurst's Cooke Hockey Complex.