ST Pat's have the chance to put distance between themselves and fourth place when their women's Premier League Hockey side plays host to Confederates this Saturday.
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Saints blew cross-city rivals Souths off the park last round and are chasing more of the fast-paced hockey which earned them the 5-0 win, but know Feds will be determined to hold onto their fourth place on the ladder.
Adding to the difficulty level for the hosts is the fact they have eight players absent.
Coach Jaden Ekert said the bulk of his starting 11 will still be on hand at Bob Roach Field and has confidence in his bench to fill key roles when needed.
"We'll be fine. I don't have an issue with it," he said.
"With the lack of substitutions it comes down to fitness now, and that's something that we take into account for our structure and game plan.
"We have to keep our fitness for the back end of the game and not waste it early."
Feds will be closely watching the result of this round's Bathurst derby between Souths and Bathurst City, with both teams still well in reach of taking fourth spot away from the Orange squad.
They accounted for City 2-0 last round and Ekert expects a big challenge from a Feds side capable of playing top notch hockey.
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"Feds are a different ball game altogether. They're quicker, they're fit and it comes back to us playing a different style of hockey," he said.
"We have to be pro active when they create a counter-attack, which they will because it's part and parcel of the game, but it's how structurally strong we are defensively so we can close that down.
"They've got some quality players in key positions and I think defensively we need to be stronger than last week. Yes, Souths didn't score a goal and yes they didn't get a short corner but every game we have these small defensive lapses and they're going to cost us against teams.
"I'm trying to eliminate that five minute period where we put ourselves under too much pressure. In games where you have a lot of attack the defence will be called upon at some point and they've got change their mindset at the drop of a hat."
Saints, in third, currently hold a six point break over Feds and are two points behind second-placed Lithgow Panthers.
Pat's and Feds will play the last PLH game of the day at Bob Roach Field, starting 3.15pm.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
