“It feels like we’ve had 1000,” Hamson laughed.

“It is what it is and everyone is in the same boat. It does hurt your momentum but we’ll deal with it and get into the back half of the year.”

On Saturday the Lions host Dubbo Rhinos, sitting in 11^th in their first stint back in the Central West Rugby Union’s top tier since 2012.

In the corresponding game in Dubbo, Orange City won 64-0.

The Lions are favoured to score a similar result on Saturday ahead of their second official bye – they’ve also had two separate weeks off for the June long weekend and representative general byes.

The Lions then play Forbes to kick-start a string of tough regular season games that will crescendo with a derby against premiers Emus on August 20.

Hamson is looking forward to the challenge.

“You want to be playing that tougher footy, because sometimes when you’re not you think you’re going better than you actually are,” he said.

In an otherwise settled team, the Lions will be minus Joe Lasagavibau and Sam Dwyer for this weekend’s game against Rhinos. Colt Liam Hanley will make his debut at inside centre.

Kick-off is at 3.15pm at Pride Park.

There will only be two grades, first grade and second grade, on show.

ORANGE CITY: 1 Joe Blunt, 2 Logan Brockman, 3 Darcy Garlick, 4 Mitch Pearce, 5 Chris Barrett, 6 John Colgan, 7 Feleti Wolfgramm, 8 Tatafu Na’aniumotu, 9 Lachie Stewart, 10 Barton Young, 11 Cam Cole, 12 Liam Hanley, 13 Duncan Young, 14 Taylor Smith, 15 Keegan Harding.