Premier League Hockey: Major semi-final place goes on the line for St Pat's against Bathurst City

Pat's sit level with Confederates in the race for second spot in the women's Premier League Hockey competition and have just a single goal buffer over the Orange club in differential going into the final round.

The Saints have it all to play for while their opponents City are simply playing for pride.

But that makes game like this all the more dangerous.

Pat's will be favourites for Saturday's game, of that there's no question, but they're the ones who have to keep the nerves at bay.

That's a fact coach Ben Weal remains well aware of, with derby conditions often bringing out the best in teams.

"Souths and City are probably better than where they finished so we have to show up ready to play on the weekend and give them the respect that they deserve," he said.

"There's no team in the comp you look at and say 'That's an easy win' because you can see how the results have gone each way. We're still feeling confident but we have to put in the effort on the field if we want the result."

The Pat's attack needs to be functioning at 100 per cent, knowing that Confederates will be in a goal-hunting mood more than ever in their game against Souths.

If Pat's and Feds both manage to win on the weekend then the major semi-final place could come down to whoever manages to hit home the more goals than the other.

Normally, in any other season, Pat's would have a tonne of intel on their local rivals but that's not so much the case in the shortened year.

"We only saw them briefly in the game we played at Orange before we went on, since we can't go into the complex until you're ready to go," Weal said.

"In that five minutes they were on the attack and looked quite dangerous. They look like a team who were playing much better than where they sit on the table.

"It's like how Jill [Long, City coach] has been saying that they've only been losing their games by tight margins. Just a goal here or there and it could be a completely different season for them."

Weal said a good winning margin is the second aim, but just getting that win is priority number one.

"We're only ahead on for and against. Feds are playing Souths, who are low down the table but also a better side than where they have finished," he said.

"We need to not only win but take every opportunity. If we don't win by a good margin, and Feds do, then we'll find ourselves in third. We can only control what we can control so we'e got to focus on our game.

"Winning is the main thing and scoring a few goals will really help us."

Pat's will field the same team which they would have used for the match against Souths, with Esther Hotham still nursing a foot injury she sustained in the Sydney competition, but looks like making a return for finals.