Now, with City under extreme pressure to extend its remarkable record of qualifying for the finals every year since, Howard will be there once more as a key figure.

The job for City in Saturday's final round match against Confederates at Bob Roach Field is not just to win, but do so by a three-goal margin.

It is something City has managed seven times in its 15 meetings with Confederates since the Orange outfit joined the competition in 2012.

Howard, who will line up in defence for City, knows it is a big ask. But as is typical from the former Australian Country representative, she is remaining positive.

"It sort of goes in our favour that we're at home, we feel comfortable, we can apply the things we learn at training, we play here all the time. It's one less thing we can take out of the unknowns so we can just focus on the things we can control," she said.

"If this is going to be the game that is riding on the semis, we want to make it a good one. Whether or not we do make it, we want to make an impression.

"We need to keep working on short corners and having those set plays we know that we can score from."

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Since Howard first pulled on a Bathurst City shirt, plenty has changed.

This season there are only two members of that inaugural side - Howard and Annika Dicker - who are playing. Kelsey Webb - a member of City's current squad - was just two-years-old when that duo won a Premier League Hockey crown together.

"Annika and myself were part of the el originals. Anni and I played Kelso together and we were there when they merged with Tahs ... now it's a little different," Howard said.

"We have young Kelsey in our team this year and she's 14, I've been out of high school for 13 years and I have been playing hockey for longer than some of these girls have been alive.

"It's actually quite to give some of that experience back and be inspired by these young kids. They have so much energy and so much enthusiasm, so it's nice to bring something to add to that."

Feds, who are aiming to make the finals for just the second time, have also evolved over the years. The side which went 13 games without beating City has now won their two most recent encounters.

"In the past you definitely still had to be on your game and you couldn't underestimate them, but you weren't under as much pressure against them as we are now," Howard said.

The match starts at 3.15pm.