They are coming off the back of a massive 42.15 (267) to 6.3 (39) loss to Orange last weekend, but Daly said the game was no representation of the Demon's true form.

"Last week we had 20 players out," he said.

"We had 15 blokes backing up from reserves and 18s. We had basically one person on the bench so we just ran out of puff."

"I'm not saying we would have won but I think the margin wouldn't have been as big."

But there'll be no such excuse this weekend, with more people putting it in at this week's training than Daly has seen in three years at the club.

"We've basically only got about four out this weekend," he said.

"We had about 30 people at training and I haven't seen 30 people at training for as long as I've been training with the Demons."

"It's probably about the strongest squad we've put on in about two years."

That squad includes newcomer Charlie Maher, who has been a great role model for the team in the midfield.

"He's just slick and just knows how to find the ball," he said.

"The introduction of someone with his skillset is great, just for the blokes to learn off. He's a marathon runner too so he just never stops."

The side will also be drawing on the experience of full-forward Terry Lyons and the leadership team of Sean Jackson, Ben Madigan, Ryan Woolf and Struan Pearce.

But Daly stressed that success on Saturday depends on everyone putting in 100 per cent.

"We've got a pretty even playing field where everyone contributes evenly," he said.

"We do have some pretty good players but we don't really focus on one or two players. We try to focus on everyone giving a consistent effort."

And it's that effort that will be the difference this week against Bathurst.

The Bushrangers are looking confident off the back of a decisive 17.19-121 to 10.4-64 defeat of Cowra Blues, and Daly said the Demons will be sticking to the basics.

"We're just looking at maintaining effort and intensity throughout the whole length of the game," he said.

"Lots of people will make a mistake but you've just got to keep working and make up for your mistakes."

And they'll also be looking to the skies, with rain forecast to fall across the morning, which "can even things out a bit more".

"I'll be disappointed this week if we get flogged. I'm confident the guys will put in a good effort and we're coming into the game thinking that we can win it."

"We'll just keep improving this week and see how we go."

The reserve side kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday at South Dubbo Oval, with the first grade side following at 2.30pm.