The Bathurst Giants have never won a game at South Dubbo Oval, and the Dubbo Demons have every intention of keeping it that way.
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The closest the Giants have come to prevailing on the Demons' turf was a 12-9-81 to 8-16-64 result in round 11 last year.
Now on Saturday the Demons will host the Giants for their first home game of the 2019 AFL Central West season, and while it's early days both teams are jostling for a top four position.
"They don't obviously drive two-and-a-half hours to lose but ... we're obviously not planning on letting them win," coach Shayne Wilesmith said.
"They've obviously got a few new players that I haven't seen, and we've got a few that they haven't seen so it will be a bit of a cat and mouse game."
The Demons are coming off a two-week break and a dominant eight goal win over the Cowra Blues in round two.
They've struggled to win on the road in previous seasons but have gained depth in 2019, with the 9.11-65 to 17.9-111 victory at Cowra a terrific confidence boost.
But Wilesmith said it was important to maintain South Dubbo Oval as a fortress, especially where the Giants are concerned.
"We're not planning on giving up our home ground advantage," he said.
"Dubbo, it's hard to come over here and win and we want to do our best to keep it that way."
The ground boasts a brand new grandstand, and the coach hopes to see a healthy crowd turn out for the club's first home game of the season.
Wilesmith expected the Demons' back six to be instrumental on Saturday, whilst acknowledging "the game of Australian rules is won out of the midfield".
"We've got a lot of talent in there, and we've got some big guys that can kick a lot of goals," he said.
"We don't lack in the forwards. We've got a fairly well-rounded team.
"They've got good players which we've got to limit their impact in the game, but we've also got players who can take on the game and win it for themselves."
The Giants head into the match on the back of an impressive 117-point win over the Bushrangers Outlaws.
While they have lost Alex Cuttiford for up to eight weeks with a broken foot, and Shaun Noyen is in doubt with an ankle injury, one of the stand-outs from that victory - Tim French - will make the trip to Dubbo.
"They come with a bit of a reputation this year that they are really focused," Giants coach Mark Kennedy said.
"They have got a goal set and that is a grand final and a premiership this year, so it's going to be one of the toughest trips going over there for any team."
The opening bounce at South Dubbo Oval on Saturday is 2.30pm.
