The 18-year-old halfback scored a try for the Lions in their impressive 43-12 win over CSU Bathurst and, given last year’s grand finalists host the battling Dubbo Rhinos at Pride Park, you’d be forgiven for thinking Stewart has his eyes set on a few more meat pies on Saturday.

“That’d be nice. I don’t know about that though,” Stewart laughed.

“It’s a really positive team to be part of. I’m really enjoying it.”

Stewart has been coming off the bench for the Lions throughout 2016, but got his maiden No.9 jumper after regular half Tom Nell injured his ankle in the warm-up at Narromine a month ago.

Stewart missed the trip to Cale Oval, and the week after that, but was rushed in Steve Hamson’s side for the CSU game last weekend.

The diminutive play-maker has another shot at cementing a place in the Lions’ top 22 ahead of another semi-finals run in 2016 when he lines up alongside Barton Young in the halves on Saturday.

“It’s probably just a matter of focusing on what I’ve been doing already … sharpening those skills and continuing to do my job for the team,” Stewart said.

“I’m definitely hoping to be in the team somewhere when Nelly gets back.

“We’ve got Forbes in a couple of weeks. They’re one of the team above us on the ladder so if we can jump them then there’s some pretty big games ahead of us and then semi-finals too.”

Stewart made an appearance off the pine in the corresponding game against the Rhinos in round one at Caltex Park, a 64-0 thrashing in favour of Saturday’s hosts.

A stand-out throughout the junior representative ranks, Stewart wasn’t expecting a similar scoreline for Dubbo’s return trip, not with Rhinos surprising a few Blowes Clothing Cup doubters in chalking up two wins since that game.

“They weren’t the best that day but from what we understand they’ve got a bit more cattle at the moment,” he said.

Lions coach Steve Hamson said the inclusion of Stewart in the Orange City rotation was a welcome one.

“He’s got his start and it’s been a good opportunity for him,” Hamson said.

“We’ll be without Joey (Lasagavibau) and Sam Dwyer ... being without Nelly, someone like Lachie becomes a pretty important player.”