Lawson is nursing a hamstring injury while skipper Stephen is, and has been all season, restricted by a back complaint, with neither expected to be able to help bowl the Bathurst side to their first victory of the 2019-20 summer.

Seaming all-rounder Dan Casey is nursing a hand injury as well which means Dave Henderson will be forced to shoulder his side's entire pace-bowling load this weekend and while he's as reliable as the day is long, it's hardly ideal for the winless, cellar-dwelling side.

Especially when you consider City Colts have Redbacks in strife at 2-31 in reply to their day one tally of 210.

While Stephen has battled back issues for a long time this is Lawson's first summer back with Colts since their 2014-15 Bathurst District Cricket Association premiership, he picked up 27 wickets that summer.

He was the competition's best the summer after when he lined up for Redbacks, taking an incredible 47 scalps at a remarkable average of just 9.51.

He's been Colts' best with the ball this summer too in taking 11 wickets, including John Rudge's scalp last weekend, and should be ruled out of bowling duties for an extended period it will be a gigantic blow to the side's hopes.

Conditions pending, play resumes at Loco Oval at 1.30pm on Saturday.

In the fifth round's other games St Pat's Old Boys are expected to declare before play at 6-308 against Rugby Union and Orange City will pick up their chase at 0-46 in reply to Cavaliers' 238.

Centrals will start day two at 2-36 in reply to CYMS' 273 while Kinross are 3-54 and require another 119 for victory against Centennials.

The BOIDC executive will continue to monitor conditions, predominantly air quality, in Orange and Bathurst in the lead-up to the games.