AS a former member of Workies, Orange CYMS five-eighth Matt Rose is better qualified than most on the beauty of all things Lithgow.

Especially Tony Luchetti Sportsground.

So when the green and golds hop on a bus on Friday afternoon and make the trip to the foot of the mountains for the most anticipated game of the 2015 Group 10 season to date, Rose knows his undefeated CYMS outfit will have to battle more than just a red-hot Workies under lights tonight in Lithgow.

“We lost a grand final to CYMS in Orange when I was with Lithgow (in 2011) and I remember it being really cold ... the conditions will be worse in Lithgow,” Rose laughed.

Those memories of Lithgow must be fond ones.

“With the weather the state has had this week, we know it’s going to be cold,” he adds.

“And the wind that goes straight down the ground can play havoc with your kicking game.

“They’ve got a big pack and they like to play off the back of the Van Veens, but if our guys - Ozzie (Simon Osborne), Cam (Jones), Trenty (Rose) and Bubby (Kyran Bubb) - can match them in the forwards I think we can get them in the backs.”

VIDEO: Matt Findlay and Nick McGrath review the Group 10 season so far:

Rose has been a revelation outside player-coach Mick Sullivan this year, providing the former NRL gun with the perfect foil as the green and golds continue to press towards a top three spot come finals time.

After two years at Bathurst Panthers, the veteran pivot says he’s thrilled to be at CYMS in 2015.

“Panthers is obviously our junior club, and we enjoyed our time there, but we didn’t see a lot of direction from the board,” Rose said, making the move with brother Trent.

“At CYMS, they’ve got a good following, a great committee and a lot of good blokes playing ... it’s a real club, and a lot of places in the bush can’t really say that - CYMS can.”

Rescheduled after torrential rain drenched Lithgow in the lead-up to round three, Friday’s game is a crucial one for Sullivan.

“It’ll determine who turns (in first) at the half-way mark of the year,” he said.

“It’s a big decider to see who can get the edge on the two shots and a home ground advantage (come finals time).”

Friday's clash with Lithgow begins with the under 18s at 5.30pm.

ORANGE CYMS: 1 Tim Bassmann, 2 Semisi Katoa, 3 Jerome Harrison, 4 Ben McAlpine, 5 Robbie Mortimer, 6 Matt Rose, 7 Mick Sullivan, 8 Logan Pocklington, 9 Sam Hill, 10 Simon Osborne, 11 Riley Law, 12 Trent Rose, 13 Tim Mortimer; 14 Kyran Bubb, 15 Cam Jones, 16 Scott Sullivan.