WHEN Bathurst St Pat’s run out on to Wade Park for today’s final round Group 10 blockbuster against Orange CYMS, they won’t just be taking on the 17 players wearing green and gold.

No, they’ll also be tackling 70 years of history.

The green and golds will celebrate seven decades as a club this weekend, with a massive crowd - from players in the club’s under 6 side through to old boys, most who have travelled big distances - expected to flock to the ground in a giant show of support for CYMS on a historic day.

And with question marks surrounding the fitness of player-coach Mick Sullivan, skipper Ben McAlpine and lock Tim Mortimer leading into the clash, there’s no better time for the support to be at its most vocal.

“I know a lot of the boys have been really looking forward to this day,” Sullivan said, the green and golds gunning for an 11th premier league title across 70 years this season.

“The guys really enjoy getting out there and playing in front of so many old boys and certainly the celebration afterward will be a lot better after a win.”

St Pat’s have been one of the form sides of the premiership over the last two months, reviving their premiership defence mid-way through the 2015 season and head into today’s clash with a six-game winning streak under their belt.

CYMS, on the other hand, have skidded somewhat since clinching the minor premiership.

Coming off a 22-20, last-minute loss to Mudgee last weekend is far from ideal, but Sullivan is confident the two-point defeat won’t dent his side’s claims at a run during this year’s finals series - and that essentially starts today against St Pat’s.

“I don’t think we lose any momentum out of it,” he said.

“They started like a rocket but our defence was outstanding and it was probably me who let them get some easy points when I threw that intercept.

“Like I said, I think we played pretty well and our effort was there. 

“We won’t lose that in the space of a week.”

After this weekend’s final round, CYMS will enjoy the week off before hosting the major semi-final at Wade Park on August 30.

For St Pat’s, their future in the 2015 competition will be sudden death and Sullivan is predicting Kurt Hancock’s men to be near their best for today’s huge match.

“They’ll be desperate to get some momentum out of this clash,” he said.

CYMS play St Pat’s from 2.30pm.

Today’s fixtures begin with a CYMS junior clash from 9am at Wade Park.

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