Ball boy to grand final winner: Nick Loader living the dream at the Bathurst Panthers

Ahead of his side's Group 10 grand final rematch against Cowra on Sunday, Loader reflects on his four years playing for Panthers in premier league.

He said it was always his goal to play in the big time after watching on as a ball boy for the club.

"[Playing first grade] was something I was looking forward to for a long time. I was actually a ball boy for Panthers when I was 12-years-old, in about 2006 and 2007, when I saw Panthers win a few first grade premierships," he said.

"Since then, [playing first grade] was something I also wanted to do. When I first found out I was going to get a run, I was over the moon. It was really good."

Since he made the move up into premier league, Loader has became a vital part of the Panthers' spine.

And last year he enjoyed his first senior grand final premiership alongside teammates that he's been playing with since his junior days.

"If you're playing in local footy, it doesn't get any better than winning a first grade grand final," he said.

"To do that with a bunch of mates I've been playing with since we were young, it was incredible.

"Halfway through the season, a lot of people wrote us off and didn't give us much of a chance, so that brought us together and made the win a bit more sweeter."

Bathurst Panthers stormed to the Group 10 premiership after scoring a late converted try against grand final hosts and minor premiers Cowra in 2018.

And now the Panthers are back to the scene of that iconic grand final win and Loader is expecting a tough game against the Magpies at Sid Kallas Oval.

"They won't be short of motivation, that's for sure," he said.

"I don't think we'll be too popular driving into town this weekend but it's something you have to do.

"As a premier, you go into every game with an extra target on your back. Every game is a little bit harder, but I've got no doubt we're ready for it."

And while he believes Panthers haven't played their best footy yet, even though they've won from five from six, he's expecting the team to keep improving.

"We've been scrappy for a lot of our games, but we're still getting wins on the board which is a positive," he said.

"We've still got a lot of improvement and we know we can do better."

Heading into Sunday's game, Panthers will need to decide on a replacement five-eight for the suspended Willie Wright, who was sent-off in last Sunday's game against Lithgow after trading blows with Workies' Wade Newham-Jones.

Cowra will be without the suspended Claude Gordon.

It'll be a difficult game at Cowra's Sid Kallas Oval, as the defending minor premiers look to overturn a two-game losing run, after previously enjoying a three-game winning streak and 130-22 scoring run.

Sunday's game gets underway from 1.40pm, with league tag starting the day at 10am.