ST PAT’S will only have to wait one match in next year’s Group 10 premier league season to get their anticipated grand final replay against the Cowra Magpies.

The recently released official draw for the upcoming season sees Pat’s play host to the Blayney Bears before once more travelling to Sid Kallas Oval for the meeting against the Magpies.

It was a joyous occasion for the Bathurst club last time they made the trip, claiming their sixth premiership thanks to a 34-12 victory.

For Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock it’s a match he knows both teams can’t wait to see unfold.

“I know that Cowra have lost a few players from the sounds of things, but that may make them a bit of an unknown. They’ll no doubt have some good juniors there to step up,” he said.

“You know that Cowra are always going to be competitive on the day, especially when they’re at Cowra. Being the grand final rematch too, everyone will be jumping out of their skin to get there.

“Blayney, in that first game, is obviously a match you want to do well in, but that’s all going to depend on how our pre-season goes. I’ll have a better idea of that after the knockout.”

Saints will then face a tough time as round three will see them tackle Panthers in the Bathurst derby and then they will host Mudgee Dragons and Orange CYMS.  

That will be followed in round six by the bye, something the blue and white had in round one for the 2014 season.

“The draw’s the draw, and whatever happens there happens,” Hancock said.

“I didn’t actually mind the round one bye ... I think a few teams struggled a bit after coming back from the bye. In our four games back [after the second bye] I think we lost two and just scraped by in the others.”

Regardless of what draw is put in front of him for this season, Hancock is confident that the way he played his cards in this year’s competition will leave his team better off when 2015 comes around.

“There was a reason that we used so many players in the season and kept up that rotation,” he said. 

“That was to use a lot of younger guys and get them experience. 

“That helps us save a bit of money that we may have used signing new players. Now we’ve got players there ready to roll and all set to go.”

It’s expected that Pat’s will lose both Cyp and Antonio Ale to Sydney next year, which could leave some big gaps to fill in the backs, but Paleatime Ale is confirmed to be staying. 

There’s now less than a month to go until Pat’s hit the fields for training once more, with things set to get back underway from January 20.