A draw away from home in the first round of the Western Premier League was a real positive for Macquarie United but coach Paul Crain knows one point each week won't be enough to secure a finals spot.
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Macquarie features one of the less experienced squads in this year's regional competition but they held their own against a physically imposing Barnstoneworth outfit last week at Orange in a 1-all draw.
On Saturday Crain's outfit is at home, taking on the unknown that is Lithgow Workmen.
Lithgow had the bye in the opening round but after taking out the first grade title in the Bathurst competition last season Crain expects a quality outfit to arrive at what is likely to be a wet Hans Claven Oval.
"It was good to get the point but that's not going to be enough to get into the semis so we need to keep going," Crain said.
"If we can pick up something [it would be good], and we know nothing about Lithgow but obviously it's good to be back at home."
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The bruising encounter at Orange has left it's mark on the Macquarie squad.
Jaryd Abbot, somewhat miraculously, will play on Saturday despite being left with "claret everywhere", as Crain stated, after a head clash early in last weekend's match.
Kyle Greaves was one of a number of other players left with bumps and bruises and he'll sit out Saturday's match to recover.
But one of the club's major off-season recruits, Cameron Kopp, is in after missing the opening round.
"There's been a couple of light sessions this week," Crain added.
"There was a few sore players. It was pretty physical and Barnies were a really big side and I believe we're one of the smaller sides."
But despite the bruising nature of last week's contest there's been a buzz around the club.
Crain expects his side and every other to get better in the coming weeks as fitness improves but he was happy with the effort produced at Orange and said it's "the same plan" ahead of round two.
"The mood's really good. We were pleased with last week ... but we don't know anything about Lithgow," he said.
"I know it's something all coaches say but we're just concentrating on what we're doing because we don't know what we're playing against.
"Everyone has a role and if everyone does that we'll get a fair outcome. Win, lose, or draw that's what I want."
Crain also wants the game to go ahead, with the steady rain settling in on Friday morning creating concern the fixture could be abandoned if the Hans Claven pitch becomes waterlogged.
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 4.30pm on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the Dubbo Bulls are in action at Parkes while Panorama FC welcomes Barnies to Bathurst.
Orana Spurs have the bye.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
