The Roolettes have only lost once this season and trail the Bathurst Bulldogs only on for-and-against but they haven't been able to deliver the intensity and show-stopping attacking footy supporters have become accustomed too.

That's down to a host of players missing matches due to representative rugby and work commitments while a number of byes and washed out training sessions has also impacted the ability to build cohesion.

But the side now faces three critical matches in as many weeks, with Saturday's trip to face an improving Orange City side followed by meetings with the Bulldogs and Orange Emus.

"We've got to get some momentum and having games almost every week will be good for us," co-coach Kieran Smith said.

"We've got City, Dogs, and then Emus which are probably three of the stronger teams this year so having them in a row is good and then we have a week off and then Forbes, who showed on the weekend they're a bit tougher than they were earlier in the season, so that's a good lead into finals."

READ ALSO:

- Platypi believe they can go to 'that next level' in run to finals

- Apex has 'absolute ability' to host again as COVID could force NRL west

- Grant pleased with Warriors' gutsy win after early send-off

While the Roolettes haven't played to their potential in recent weeks the biggest positive for Smith and fellow coach Gus McDonald is the fact the side has still been winning.

Last weekend's 29-0 win over Forbes looks much more emphatic on paper than it was and the side heads to Orange expecting to again be without Kim Fyfe and Lillyann Mason-Spice.

That's nothing new for the side as the pair have been with the ACT Brumbies' Super W squad for a lot of the season but, in a huge blow, Mason-Spice is facing an extended stint on the sideline.

The electric outside back suffered a shoulder injury while with the Brumbies in the past week and her absence has already been felt at Roos training.

"It's a massive loss," Smith said.

"But we've got a lot of good young players coming through and it's just a matter of getting them all together all the time to build those combinations.

"We haven't had our better players all together at the same time and while we've got the young ones they need a bit of experience around them to guide them.

"That's what Lilly provides and if she's not playing she provides it as training as well. We are missing her, especially her intensity at training."

The Roos put triple figures on City last season but that hasn't been the case in 2021 as the Lionesses have shown real development.

Smith knows his side will have to work for the win on Saturday at what is expected to be a cold Pioneer Park.

"We need to front up in our defence a little better," he said.

"We've been getting on the back foot and teams are taking easy metres off us. We've got to get a bit stiffer in defence and really get off the line and start to dominate with our defence.

"When we do that we get teams going backwards and if we can control our ball a little better, we were very poor looking after our ball against Forbes, we've got weapons all over the field to attack with."

Janalee Conroy and Alahna Ryan have been continual standouts for the Roolettes this season while youngsters Darby Richardson, Mia Taylor, and Ashanti Pennell have also developed into key players.

Kick-off on Saturday is.12pm while the first grade match kicks off at 3.15pm and could well decide which team finishes with the dreaded wooden spoon this year.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: