Panthers will be a part of this year’s final series, currently sitting in fourth with two rounds remaining but with the potential to climb higher.

Naturally Hewitt would like to earn a major semi-final spot instead of facing sudden-death the first week of the finals series, but he is more concerned about getting his Panthers in top form.

“We were for a while looking at the ladder,” Hewitt said.

“But this year especially, this comp has been so open, pretty much anyone in the top five can win it. So we are more concentrating on finishing the season on a high and getting all the little details right going into the finals rather than concentrating on the leader board now.

“You always I suppose have an eye on it, but you are going to have to verse whoever comes your way in the finals no matter if it’s the first round or the second round if you make it through.

“If you look at all the games, everyone has gotten beaten by someone who got beat by someone else you beat, it’s just all over the shop. You’ve got to be ready mentally.”

This Sunday the challenge will be to come out mentally switched on against Lithgow Workies – a rival no doubt keen to make amends for a 38-30 loss to Blayney last Sunday and move further away from the bottom of the ladder.

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“I’d say they will come out looking to make up for that, it’s tough enough down there, but after that loss to Blayney, I’d say they’ll be ready for us,” Hewitt said.

“At the moment it doesn't matter who you are versing, this is where you need to get everything right for the finals. Whatever team it happens to be we need to be good, Lithgow in Lithgow will be hard, so we definitely have to come out firing and get ready for finals footy.”

As has been a trademark of Lithgow outfits in recent times, Hewitt is again expecting the Wolves’ forward pack to provide a stern test.

But he also feels the speed his forwards bring to the ruck will be key.

“They’ve always tough and physical and don’t shy away from a challenge up the guts, but that’s where we’ve based most of our year on,” Hewitt said.

“It will be a good challenge for our middle boys and I’d say our outside boys will get a fair bit more of the ball this weekend as well.

“I think we have one of the smaller packs, but we’re just very mobile and the boys are all fit. We always like to play a quick game, get that roll on … we like to play it as fast as possible.”

Hewitt plans to name an unchanged line-up from that which beat Oberon 20-18 last Sunday.

Sunday’s match at Tony Luchetti Sportsground kicks off at 2.15pm.