The Lions will visit Apex Oval for a round one rematch against Dubbo Kangaroos as they look to further cement themselves in the Blowes Clothing Cup top four.

In somewhat of a surprise move, Viv Paasi's put the 24-year-old in the number nine jersey while moving stalwart Tom Nell down to second grade in a decision that Taberner describes as a "freshener" for Nell.

"Nelly's a great footy players," Taberner said.

"He's been one of the best halfbacks in Orange and the Central West for a while now.

"I've won a couple of Colts premierships with him but I think this is just a freshener for him so he can come back to first grade stronger.

"I think Viv's asked me because he wants me to play a more nitty gritty, defensive role."

Not only has Taberner spent the majority of his adult career at breakaway, it's the spot he's called home since he first laced up the boots as a kid.

But the move to nine might help shore up City's middle defence and that's exactly where Taberner thinks his teammates need to flourish against Kangaroos.

"They've got a good, hard forward pack," he said.

"Our goal is to dominate them in the forwards. They've got some good outside backs but I think it'll be a forwards game."

In addition to muscling up in the middle, Paasi's placed an emphasis on fast starts as the Lions basically lost their last match against Bulldogs in the opening exchanges.

"We're mostly going to focus on the first 15 minutes," he said.

"We've been killing ourselves with early errors and penalties.

"When we string a few phases together we've been killing it so if we can have Dubbo on the back foot from the get go, we'll be in a good spot."

If the season ended today, Orange City would qualify for the semi finals position but if neither the Lions or Forbes win for the next two weeks, it's possible the last round clash between the two sides would decide who reaches the postseason, a position Paasi's men would obviously like to avoid.

Forbes has the bye this round but will host Bathurst in round eight and while they'd enter that clash as outsiders, the Lions wouldn't want to have bank on another team losing.

Kangaroos sit much more comfortably on the ladder and are almost a certainty to play finals football in 2020.

A win over Orange City on Saturday would lock up at least a third-placed finish with a match against Emus to come in the final round.