Six of the girls on Group 11's team that compete in the Western League Tag Derby will have worn the CYMS green-and-white colours this season, with representatives from Parkes and Forbes making up the bulk of the rest of the squad.

"We've got five girls from Forbes and three from Parkes, one from Macquarie and one from Nyngan," Merritt said.

"It'll be good to work on the combinations we've already got at club level, a lot of these girls are already used to working together, I figure why split it up if it it already works, if we can keep it on side and keep focused I think they'll do very well together."

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One CYMS player drawing focus ahead of the contest is Haley Butcherine, the former Orange product has made her Group 11 debut this season and is expected to do good work against her former teammates at the derby.

"Coming from group 10 herself, she's really fit in with our players and structure at Dubbo CYMS and she's brought a lot of energy, always has a smile on her face every training run and always putting in the hard yards at training," Merritt said.

"She's adapted well to the CYMS way of footy, it's really pleasing."

"Her best work is going to be what she plays for CYMS in the centres, she has a lot of speed and a very good passing speed as well. She's got a good step on her, so she'll be very useful and very good for us in the centre; getting involved, making the hard yards and making the tags."

Merritt is confident the Group 11 side has the makings to up-end Group 10's six year reign of dominance over the derby.

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"I think we've got a good mixture, I really think we'll do well." Merritt said.

"Nicole Grose brings a lot of experience and calmness, India Draper and the Ward sisters from Parkes are always tough to beat and hard to play against, we've got the Forbes girls who've got that hometown advantage, they're all going to play off each other's strengths, I'll be calling on all those factors."

The line-up will be rounded out by fullback Alahna Ryan and isn't being taken lightly by Group 10's first-time coach Mish Somers.

"I think the gap is closing. They've got a lot of young girls with pace and from what I hear Dubbo CYMS has a pretty handy side this season, so we're keen for Forbes next Saturday," Somers said.

Merritt is expecting the best from the Group 10 side as well, acknowledging that his own team has a big hill to climb if they want to come out on top.

"They're going to be very prepared, they always come hard and there'll be no difference to their attitude, they'll be their to play footy, our girls just have to match that intensity."

Games start at 10.15am, with the final to kick-off at 12.30pm.

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