THEY have already won four titles in the last seven years and now Bathurst Panthers’ Group 10 first division outfit is hunting for another as they begin their 2014 finals campaign today against Orange CYMS.

Panthers will travel to Orange for the qualifying semi-final, with the winner to face St Pat’s next week for a spot in the decider and a week off.

A handful of players will back up from last year’s premiership team, led by player-coach Brian Moss along with the likes of Aaron Bell and Trent Hotham.

There is also a large group of new additions will look for their first title in the grade.

“We’ve had a fair few young guys come into the team this year, but it helps that we still have a number of players left over from the team that won in 2013,” Bell said.

“There’s a core group of about five or six of us that have been in the side for a while and that have had a bit of experience in first grade. The mix is pretty good.”

So far in their two meetings this season, Panthers and CYMS couldn’t have been more evenly matched.

In their first clash CYMS got the result 22-18 in Orange before Panthers turned the tables on them with a 20-16 victory at the Sportsground in Bathurst.

Bell, who is going to be a key man at hooker along with the likes of Hotham at halfback, is expecting another tight contest. However, he admits CYMS could boast the upper hand in terms of flair.

“Both those games have been very close and I’d say it will go that way again,” he said.

“We only just pipped them when they came over a here a month ago and it was a bit the same for them the first time. 

“I think we’re a pretty grinding sort of side, there isn’t a lot of flashiness about our football and we tend to play it pretty simple.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure, but I think Warick Colley may have qualified for CYMS to play reserves, which gives them a pretty major attacking weapon that we’ll have to shut down.”

There have been a number of players from the Panthers squad who have shown plenty of improvement in 2014, including the likes of talented teenage centre Josh Small and James Woolmington, who have both played a number of first grade matches.

Bell said that Koen Willis especially has taken his game to the next level.

“Koen has been outstanding, to go from playing fullback to being in the forwards is a big step and to then be doing it in first grade every few weeks shows how much he’s lifted,” the hooker said.

Panthers face Orange CYMS from 1pm this afternoon at Wade Park.