BATHURST Giants can put one foot in the Central West AFL finals series should they overcome the Orange Tigers for a second time this season in Saturday's game at George Park 1.
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With a big crowd expected for Katrina Hobby Memorial day there's bound to be pressure on two clubs fighting different, but equally tense, finals battles.
For the Giants a win will keep them clear of the chasing Dubbo Demons and Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws, while also keeping their faint major semi-finals hopes aflame.
In the case of the Tigers it's a chance to put one hand on the minor premiership title and send a message to the rest of the competition that they're still the men to beat this season.
Giants boast the only victory over the Tigers any senior CWAFL men's team has had this year, a 8.6-54 to 3.5-23 score at Waratahs in May.
The Bathurst men will be expecting a much tougher task this time against the Tigers who have several reasons to perform at George Park.
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The first is the presence of the Bushrangers Rebels just one win behind them and also the match being part of the Katrina Hobby Memorial day.
Coach Mark Kennedy said the atmosphere will be something to savour in the high pressure contest.
"It's a big game for us being the Katrina Hobby round so they will be bringing a lot of emotion over with them on the day," he said.
"The women are playing Orange on the day as well and there's a lot of hype around that game.
"We have a structure planned for the weekend and if we execute it well then we should be okay."
Little can be taken away tactically from the Giants' blustery defeat to the Bathurst Bushrangers Rebels last round.
They will be bringing a lot of emotion over with them on the day.
- Mark Kennedy
What can be dissected from the game is the Giants' intensity and desire for the ball, according to Kennedy.
"Their confidence is growing over the latter part of the season," he said.
"We were a bit underdone against the Rebels but we only lost that one by eight points so with a couple of straight shots on goal there it could have been a different story for us.
"Frency [Tim French] comes back in for us this game. Nic Broes is also into the side, so that bolsters our midfield, while Ryan Cooke is in and that helps our backline."
Following the matches a charity auction and dinner will be held at Bathurst Panthers.
"We're really looking forward to spending some time with Orange there," Kennedy said.
"Hopefully we can raise some good money for the trust fund for the kids."
Among the items up for auction are signed Greater Western Sydney Giants, Richmond Tigers and Sydney Swans jerseys and a signed Cronulla Sharks jumper.
The match starts from 2.30pm.