After a costly defeat in round 10, Orange City will look to get its Blowes Clothing Cup campaign back on track when it hosts Dubbo Kangaroos on Saturday.
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It’s not panic stations for the Lions yet but another lopsided defeat would hurt their points difference and push them further away from Parkes, sitting fifth.
Dubbo is a big challenge for Orange City and is certainly considered a more formidable outfit than the Cowra side they were demolished by last weekend.
City skipper Tom Nell isn’t oblivious to the task at hand and knows it’ll take a near-perfect effort for his troops to get across the line.
“It’s massive, it hasn’t really been our year this year with injuries and what not but we’re determined to turn it around,” Nell said.
“We played really, really well in the first half against Cowra last weekend but after they scored a try early in the second we let our heads go down and we just can’t do that again this weekend.”
This will be the second time the Lions clash with the Kangaroos after their round two meeting saw Dubbo belt the now sixth-placed City side.
Even though his team fell convincingly, Nell learned some important lessons on April 8 and will look to perform better this time around.
“Their outside centre just tore us apart last time around, so we’ll need to stop him. I’ve heard they’ve got a few forwards back too,” Nell said.
“We just need to face up to them and put an 80-minute performance together.”
This weekend’s clash with Dubbo opens the curtains for a murderers’ row of opponents as City moves on to face Bathurst Bulldogs, Orange Emus and Forbes Platypi between now and the end of July.
“It’ll be a bloody good test of character,” Nell fired.
“We’ve got a lot of young blokes who will get a first hand look at what it’s like to play these top sides, in first grade. It’ll be good experience for us all.
“All of us need to step up this weekend and over the next few weeks, and show we’re willing to fight back into this competition. All it takes is one guy to show that kind of character, and lift up everyone around him.”
Orange City Lions and Dubbo Kangaroos will play at Pride Park from 3.15pm