CONFIDENCE is a wonderful thing, and Orange Hawks gained plenty of it out of last weekend’s two-point victory over Oberon at Wade Park.

But just how well the two blues back-up tomorrow in Mudgee - arguably the toughest road trip in Group 10 - without a host of stars, including captain-coach Brock McGarity (ankle), prop Arty Shead (knee) and returning backrower Todd Morrissey (calf), is anyone’s guess.

“It’s going to be pretty tough,” player-coach Jared Brodrick said.

Shead is out indefinitely after making his return off the bench for Hawks last week, while Morrissey is a couple of weeks away having popped a calf muscle in the warm-up last Sunday.

McGarity has an ankle problem that forced him from the field mid-way through the first half of last weekend’s win.

Still, Brodrick said the group has been upbeat during the week after getting their first win of the season against Oberon, a 36-34 cracker.

“The attitude of the boys, the confidence, everything has really picked up this week,” he said.

“But we still understand there’s a long way to go before we get back into it.”

Mudgee’s start to 2015 hasn’t been as dominant as it was last season, with Jack Afamasaga’s side losing games to Bathurst Panthers and Lithgow before round six.

But Brodrick still believes the Dragons are one of the teams to beat this season.

And Hawks have to muscle up to do so.

“We’ve got to try and shut down their middle,” he said.

“I’m not sure if Jack is playing, but their big boys get on a roll and guys like Corin Smith and Tom Lewsley are pretty slippery out wide.”

Tomorrow’s game will be played at Glen Willow, Mudgee.

ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Cody Robbins, 2 Justin Howarth, 3 Jared Brodrick, 4 Lachie Harris, 5 Jedd Kennedy, 6 Wise Kativerata, 7 Keegan Harding, 8 Mitch Davis, 9 Matt Boss, 10 Sam Coyte, 11 Lawrence Fogg, 12 Kyle Byrnes, 13 Lachlan Sturgeon; 14 Mitch Hurford.