In the short, three-summer history of Mitchell Cricket Council's Twenty20 Cup Orange have had the wood on their rivals and Bluebaggers skipper Ed Morrish has no intention of letting the side's dominance wane in Sunday's fourth edition of the tournament.
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But, he did admit his side's bid to become the tournament's maiden back-to-back champions will be difficult.
Although Orange will enter the gala as reigning champions they're also yet to confirm their side for Sunday after a handful of players who were initially picked were ruled out and Morrish admitted it's hardly the ideal preparation.
Cowra will be tough, they're probably not as strong as they used to be but there's still really dangerous cricketers out that way.
- Orange skipper Ed Morrish
"It makes it difficult to make plans and that sort of thing but at the same we're lucky to have been playing T20 cricket for a long time in Orange with the Royal Hotel Cup, and I think that's a big reason we've won two of the three titles so far," he said.
"As a whole we've definitely played more of this format than the other sides and experience does count for a lot in T20 cricket because it's a really, really different way of playing the game.
"That was certainly an influence in the last couple of summers but it probably won't be too big an advantage this time because there is more T20 being played everywhere now, so it'll be tough, but I'm confident whoever we put on the paddock will be able to get the job done."
Cowra have been included in this summer's tournament in a bid to extend it to the entire Central West catchment, a move designed to help the Wranglers' Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash preparations and selections for next season.
The Bluebaggers have been charged with facing the newcomers first-up on Sunday morning at Bathurst's Morse Park 1, with the hosts taking on Lithgow on the adjacent No.2 ground.
"That's a good move, this competition would definitely be a big part of the Wranglers' selectors' process so having the Cowra guys on deck gives them more of a chance to press their claims," Morrish said.
"It'll also help our preparations for the Finals Series at the SCG on Australia Day, but the priority is trying to win the competition for Orange.
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"Cowra will be tough, they're probably not as strong as they used to be but there's still really dangerous cricketers out that way and we'll need to be on our toes.
"Lithgow have been strong in the Royal Hotel Cup and Bathurst have been our biggest competition over the last few years, it'll be interesting.
"You can't do anything but concentrate on that first game, so we'll think about Bathurst and Lithgow once we've hopefully knocked off Cowra."
The Orange selectors are expected to name their side on Friday evening.
The first-round games begin at 10am on Sunday morning before the decider at Morse Park 1 from 2.30pm.
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