With a win over the Magpies the green and golds could move back into the Group 10 premier league top five but it's a victory they'll have to secure without almost a dozen regular first graders.

Ben McAlpine (hip), Chris Grevsmuhl (pec), Rob Mortimer (lip), Joseph Ualesi (knee), Tyrone Harrison (ankle), Kain Earsman (knee), Steve Morris (hamstring) and Damon Goolagong (illness) will all miss Saturday's clash, while Maley remains in doubt and hasn't named himself either.

"You could just about field a handy side to play against us, just from our injured players," Maley said.

It's not the first time CYMS have been hammered by injury this year, in fact Maley's only been able to name the same side from one week to another once this season.

"It's frustrating, obviously, but at the same time we're playing a contact sport and injuries will always happen we've just picked up a lot at the same time, again," he said.

"All we can do it deal with it, get the best side on the paddock we can and go out there with the intent to play well and win."

The likes of Curtis Cantwell, Wayne Collett, Tyrell Charters and Jay Mawhinney come into CYMS' side to take on the Magpies, while the versatile Tim Mortimer will shift from lock to five-eighth to provide an experience boost in the halves.

Maley did try to put a positive spin on a more-than-unfortunate situation, focusing on opportunity.

"You have to look at the opportunity it gives other guys too. There's a number of guys who have been playing well in reggies, a few for a couple of years, who can come up and see where they stand and if they're on pace at this level," he said.

"Aidan Baker's a good example of someone who's done that this year and he's worked his way into the starting side, a few blokes have their opportunity now and it's up to them to take it."

It's not lost on Maley just how important his troops taking that opportunity this weekend is, the Orange side is deadlocked on 12 points with Cowra while Oberon and Bathurst St Pat's are two further back.

With Hawks, Panthers, Mudgee and Lithgow entrenched in the top four the quartet of sides looked to locked in fierce, four-way battle for fifth.

CYMS have to play Mudgee and Hawks in the last four weeks of the regular season too, although they do have the benefit of a bye next weekend and a string of home games to finish the year.

"As we get closer to finals the desperation does build with every loss and being on the same points as Cowra this one's pretty important," Maley said.

"They're pretty strong across the board with guys like Jeremy Gordon and Warren Williams pulling the strings, so we just need to try and shut them down.

"We have the bye the week after which is a benefit and a lot of the injured guys are looking to be back through those last few weeks of the regular season. We're still well and truly in contention so we'll be hoping to really finish with a wet sail as those guys trickle back."

CYMS face Cowra at Sid Kallas Oval from 1.45pm, there is no reserve grade game, it will be played if required leading into the semi-finals.