ORANGE Emus co-coach Graydon Staniforth concedes the Greens will negotiate the Blowes Clothing Cup’s final two rounds with a heavily depleted playing roster.

Emus travel to Cale Oval to battle the struggling Narromine Gorillas on Saturday, and will do so without prop Nas Havealeta (head wound), Andrew Cosgrove (ankle), Tom Goolagong (shoulder), Matt Findlay (shoulder), Tom Green (hip) and Staniforth himself, who left the field in Emus’ big 67-24 win over Mudgee with a hamstring issue.

Most of those players aren’t in danger of missing more than two games - meaning a full-strength Emus will appear come week one of the semi-finals on August 29 - but both Nick Hughes-Clapp and Nigel Staniforth are also likely to be rested for the clash with Orange City next week.

A result of roster management more than any form or pre-finals mind games with their crosstown rivals, Staniforth is hopeful the next two weeks will freshen up Emus for a full-blown assault on the Blowes Clothing Cup semis.

“Next week’s [derby] doesn’t really mean anything,” Staniforth said.

Orange City is expected to beat Bathurst this weekend to shore up the minor premiership, while Emus are locked in second spot.

“We’ve got a few guys who are carrying a few injuries and a few more who could do with a rest, and if not this week then definitely next week’s game is the perfect chance to do that,” Staniforth added.

VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Matt Findlay preview this weekend's games:

Narromine, though, won’t be easy.

Defying their lowly ninth-place position on the ladder, the Gorillas stuck it to Emus in a 29-10 loss in their last encounter at Endeavour Oval.

Staniforth is expecting a much tougher assignment at Cale Oval, a feared destination in the Blowes Clothing Cup.

“Obviously Narromine have had a much tougher year than the last couple, but we’re expecting a hard game,” he said. “We only really got on top of them in the final quarter of the match when we played them here.”

Sam Chamberlain, Adam Freeman and Michael Graham all come into the Emus starting side, while Simon Badgery returns to the centres allowing Isaac White to shift back to fullback.

Tomorrow’s game begins at 3.15pm.

ORANGE EMUS: 1 Steve Fergus, 2 Keith Howarth, 3 Michael Graham, 4 Sam McLean, 5 Nick Hughes-Clapp, 6 Sam Chamberlain, 7 Scott Udy, 8 Scott McLean, 9 TJ Cunynghame, 10 Adam Perri, 11 Carter Hirini, 12 Simon Badgery, 13 Nigel Staniforth, 14 Adam Freeman, 15 Isaac White.