CYMS has a two-point buffer over the Wellington Cowboys at the top of the ladder heading into matches against the in-form Nyngan Tigers and local rivals Macquarie in the final two rounds.

Playing two fellow premiership contenders is the perfect finals preparation for the Fishies and Townsend is hopeful his side can do enough to stay in top spot and earn passage through to the major semi-final.

"We think a week off would be great and it would confirm we've done the hard work and that we're doing things right," he said of the minor premiership.

"It's pretty important and it's our goal. We've readjusted a bit from the start of the year where we just wanted to be competitive and now we want to finish first."

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CYMS heads to Nyngan's Larkin Oval on Sunday and Townsend is expecting one of the difficult matches of the season after discussing the contest with his players in recent weeks.

Meetings between the Tigers and CYMS in Nyngan have regularly been among the matches of the season in years gone by, and more of the same is expected on Sunday.

Nyngan heads into the match after a win at Wellington last weekend, a victory many of the Tigers felt was one of the best in years, and a bumper sponsors' day crowd is expected at Larkin Oval.

"The last two games will really prepare us for the back-end of the year," Townsend said.

"We've got Nyngan this weekend and we might meet them again in a couple of weeks and then Macquarie, and we might meet them again.

"It's good, hard, competitive, tough footy and you'll know where you stand.

"Fingers crossed things go our way and we get a couple of wins and get a week off after finishing top, which would be a good reward."

CYMS is coming off the bye last weekend and a week off previously this season has resulted in a slow start in the following match.

The opening stages of games have been one of few concerns for the Fishies up to this point, and Townsend knows starting well is particularly important against a confident Nyngan side with plenty of support behind it.

"Teams have put tries on us and we get them in the back end," Townsend said.

"Especially out there, we want to start fast and at the back end we can build enough pressure to come out on top.

"We need to start fast and start well so we can get into the game and into the flow of it and build some momentum."

Back-rower Josh Toole trained midweek but is in doubt to an ongoing ankle injury.

Townsend admitted Toole is likely to miss Sunday's match to ensure his fitness for the derby a week later.

Pete Karydis is set to start in the back-row while youngster Riley Wake will be back on the bench.

Nyngan heads into the match in fourth spot on the ladder.

First grade kicks off at 2.30pm, Sunday.

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