The Forbes boy has been part of some bumper Magpies-Spacemen June long weekend clashes at Parkes - it's arguably the biggest regular season game of the Group 11 season every year.

There's more at stake than just the two competition points. Winning is paramount. Winning means everything.

So when Merritt got his first taste of the all-Bathurst clash, an Anzac Day game no less, the St Pat's recruit was bitterly disappointed rivals Panthers got the chocolates.

In fairness, that clash in April was probably the last time St Pat's played to their potential, too. The club has only won one of its last eight games to slide down to eighth on the ladder.

So the goal heading into Saturday's return derby at Jack Arrow Oval is two-fold: snatch back derby bragging rights and get the club's 2019 season back on track.

"The rivalry here, I felt it when we ran out in that first game. It's definitely a game we all want to win," the 21-year-old backrower said.

"We just didn't take our opportunities against Panthers and then we gave them a sniff, and you can't afford to do that against a side like Panthers.

"It's definitely a must-win game ... we're not travelling too great but there's a couple back so hopefully they're firing and we can get the win."

One of those returning players is Merritt's brother Zac.

The powerhouse lock has been ravaged by injury since again linking with the blue and whites in 2018 after a couple of seasons with Forbes as well.

The Merritts love playing together and the younger of the brothers says having Zac back in the line-up for Saturday's derby gives St Pat's an edge.

"He's one of those one-of-a-kind sort of players," Traie said of his older brother Zac.

"He'll create something out of nothing for us. He was a little bit underdone last week against Lithgow but hopefully he'll be better for the run."

Which St Pat's will need him to be against a strong Panthers pack headlined by Dave Scott medal winner Brent Seager.

"We'll be out to shut down their middle, we know that's where they aim their play - they'll try and play their powerhouse game," Traie said, St Pat's eighth on the ladder and Panthers sitting pretty on top.

"For us though, it's really just a game-by-game thing. We're just trying to get that win. We're not worrying about the long game yet," Merritt added.

Premier league kick-off is at 2.15pm.