Hawks' tired performance in last Sunday's win over Oberon was proof enough how big a toll their showdown with the Dragons the week prior had taken, and captain-coach Willie Heta confirmed his side was "definitely still feeling it" afterward.

From all accounts Panthers' 14-10 victory over Mudgee last week was a brutal encounter too and it being at Glen Willow Sporting Complex potentially exacerbates the issue, while the men in black also have to deal with a shorter turnaround to Saturday's round 14 bout.

Rolling off that into the biggest game of 2019 so far is far from ideal for Panthers, with the two sides deadlocked and six points clear at the top of the ladder it looks likely Saturday's match-up will effectively decide the minor premiership.

"It will have been tough for them going over to Mudgee last week," an almost-emphatic Heta said.

"We knew Mudgee would come over here to do a job and our encounter with them (at Wade Park) was pretty physical, the boys were very battered and bruised and they're even tougher at home.

"So maybe Panthers have come out of last week's game the same way we did against Mudgee and it's taken a bit of a toll but they're a good side so we're just expecting a very, very tough game."

Although the outright lead would be assumed to be motivation enough, Panthers do have the added drive of helping Jake Betts and Jack Siejka mark milestones with a monumental victory.

Betts will mark his 100^th top grade game against Hawks while Siejka marks his 50^th, the former saying they'll be taking on the job shutting down the two blues' pack, along with Heta.

"Hawks are obviously the team to beat at the moment," Betts said.

"That forward pack's been really good and Willie Heta's been their main man. If we can slow them down in the middle and take him out of it then that will go a long way for us."

"[The first 99 games] feel like [they've] gone by pretty quick. I was surprised when it was brought up.

"When I first came into the grade [former coach John Fearnley] gave me a crack pretty early. I don't know whether I should have been there but he showed a bit of faith in me and I'm still really grateful for that chance.

"That's probably helped me develop and bit better and quicker than what I thought I could.

"I'd grown up playing juniors with guys in this team so it's pretty special being able to play with them each week."

Hawks meet Panthers at Carrington Park on Saturday night, from 6.45pm, with under-18 league tag the first game on the program from 2pm.