So when the Saints get another chance to play the match named in honour of their former hooker this Saturday, you can bet they will be doing everything they can to win.

Brendon ‘Stubby’ Collits died as the result of a car crash on June 29, 2013. That year he was a member of the Saints’ line-up, but before then the Magpies had benefited from his skills.

With both clubs wishing to pay tribute to not only a handy footballer, but a great club man who was respected by his peers, last year it was decided to hold a memorial day in his honour.

Around 1,000 spectators turned out at Forbes to watch the hosts get the better of the Saints.

“I think last year when we went over there for the trial, they were more up to play, I was a bit disappointed with the efforts of our players,” Hancock said.

“Not only is it important to try and play well given the sort of player Stubby was, but it’s important to honour his memory and what he did for the footy club.

“I never met him, but I know his parents and they are great people, so I can imagine how good a bloke he was.

“It was a funny sort of thing, Forbes beat us in that match, but then they went on to finish last in Group 11 and we won in Group 10.”

This Saturday amongst the Saints line-up will be a number of players who never got to meet Collits, but Hancock drummed into them at training how important it was for them to perform.

“It is our responsibility at the club to honour the bloke ... I will be stressing to all the new guys, I doesn’t matter if you met him or not, it is an important game for us,” the coach said.

While Pat’s head into the match, which will be played at Ashwood Park, on the back of a win in the Bathurst Rugby League Knockout, their line-up will be a little different this Saturday.

Five-eighth Joey Coughlan is busy with a cricket grand final, centre Dave Howard has a shoulder complaint, while fullback Nathan Lawrence sustained ligament damage last Friday night in the win over Blayney and is expect to be sidelined for a month.

Prop Ben Thompson and Jacob Bell are other absentees, yet Hancock will have Mick Armstrong back and is set to give under 18s second rower Sam Wootton a chance off the bench.

The coach will also use the game to trial a new halves combination.

“Tim Holman will play, we will give him 20 minutes in reserves and then he will back up for first grade. We will probably give him and Garry Reilly 30 minutes at the back end of the game to develop that combination,” Hancock said.

Despite their record last season, the Pat’s mentor is expecting Forbes to provide his men with a formidable challenge. Their outfit includes a member of Cowra’s 2014 grand final side in KJ Wood and former Saint Zac Merritt.

“Zac will have a point to prove, he wanted my job so to speak. But Forbes have recruited well and they look like they will improve out of sight,” Hancock said.

“They will be up for it, when you play against premiers you are always up for it.”

The day of action at Ashwood Park gets underway with a women’s league tag match against St Pat’s and Blayney at 1.30pm. The Saints and Magpies will then do battle in reserve grade from 1.30pm and firsts from 3.40pm.