A win over the Bathurst side would provide the third-placed Wanderers a fifth win from their last six starts and could potentially give them an eight point buffer over the next best side, should other results fall their way.

It’d also make up for their defeat at the hands of Souths earlier in the year, when they lost 7-1, and give them bragging rights, the importance of which can’t be underestimated considering the two sides’ long-standing rivalry.

“There is plenty of history there, I don’t think they like us much and I guess it goes both ways,” Wanderers player-coach Keiran Gentles laughed.

“A win would definitely make up for that loss and it’d help us shoot a little bit further ahead of Souths, there’s four points separating us at the moment.

“We’ve shot ahead of Zig Zag now which was a goal, our next goal is to do the same with Souths. It’s a big game, definitely, one of the biggest this year for us so far.”

Wanderers are expected to be without ex-Souths star and co-coach Matt Johnson though, which Gentles admitted will hurt. Souths won’t be at full strength either though, with Kerrod Ferguson unavailable.

“We’re not quite sure whether Matty will play yet or not, fingers crossed he can get back,” Gentles said.

Gentles said his side is brimming with positivity and improving with every training session, which gives him plenty of confidence leading into Saturday’s grudge match.

“We’re training really well and everyone is just getting better and better,” he said.

“We’re playing pretty good hockey too, at the moment it’s really just about improving the way we move the ball out of our own defensive end and a bit of finishing.

“We’re getting ourselves into good positions we just need to put them away.”

Wanderers take on Souths, at Bathurst’s Bob Roach Field, from 3.20pm.