The Demons were set to host Parkes on Saturday but the Panthers forfeited late in the week, handing the Dubbo side victory without a ball being kicked.

The four competition points are crucial for a Demons side chasing fourth spot on the ladder and it does give a number of players time to get over some niggling injuries, but it also brings a halt to momentum built in recent weeks.

“We’ve been playing really well the past couple of weeks and it would have been good to consolidate on that and build on it,” Bunt said.

“But we’ll go and support the girls and run the boundary and umpire and do whatever else is needed.”

The Panthers told Central West AFL officials of their decision on Thursday night before it was made official on Friday morning.

The Demons knows the pain of battling for numbers, having gone with an inch of forfeiting just a matter of weeks ago before a trip to Bathurst, and Bunt confessed it’s not good for the competition.

“We’re probably the closest team to them (Panthers) so for them to not be able to make the one hour trip to Dubbo is not a good sign for the rest of the season,” he said.

“It looked like they put on a good show against the (Bathurst) Giants last week and only went down by seven so we were looking forward to the game.

“But it’s disappointing because you want the whole competition to be as good as it can be.”

The chance to overcome a number of corked thighs and niggling knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries is the big positive for Bunt.

The side showed plenty of fight during a tight loss to Orange last week but there were some bumps and bruises.

Bunt is hopeful everyone will now be fit and firing for next round’s clash with the Bathurst Giants.

Depending on Saturday’s results, the Demons could still be two wins outside the top four by the time the Giants come to town.

"That’s going to be a must-win game for us and then we go to Orange so there’s a couple of big games,” Bunt said.

Dubbo’s women sides takes on Parkes at 12.45pm at South Dubbo Oval on Saturday.