Bathurst Regional Council and the Panthers have had two years and two games to play with the variables: the time of year the game is played, the promotion beforehand, the opposition.

The first game was played in late July, an unpleasant time of year to be outside in Bathurst in the late afternoon, and the second game was played in early March.

That’s a much better time in Bathurst weather-wise, but is also very early in the season, when some sports fans might not yet have fully switched to winter code mode.

The crowd at the first game was close to 9000, but dropped to over 6000 last year – and whether that was due to the change in date or the change of opposition (the Gold Coast Titans, who would not have a strong following locally) are questions that would have been asked many times since.

So what can we expect this year?

A crowd that is bigger than last year’s effort would have to be the first priority.

And the second target would be to better the almost 7600 people that turned up to a trial match in Orange in February between the Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights.

If only half that crowd travels to Bathurst for Saturday’s game, and adds to the locals and those who travel from Penrith, a bumper turnout can be expected.

For all the positive noises being made about an extension to the five-year deal between Bathurst and the Panthers, it would have to be assumed that any extension would be dependent on good crowds.

Organisers have had an opportunity to iron out the kinks in this fixture, and now it’s up to the locals.

Either you want this game or you don’t.

Use it or lose it.