Saturday's showdown between Bathurst Panthers and Orange CYMS - which will act as the first curtain raiser for the NRL between Penrith and Manly - is looking like an absolute treat for the fans, especially for those who don't see much country rugby league.

And to be able to play in front of a bigger crowd than what he's use to, Panthers skipper Doug Hewitt said he's looking forward to getting out on the paddock on Saturday morning.

"We always love it," he said on Panthers playing in the NRL curtain raiser.

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"Two years ago we played Blayney and it was a great crowd and the boys put it on, just showcasing some country footy."

Saturday's game will kick-off at 10.55am, a much earlier start time then what the Panthers would be use to, but Hewitt believes the earlier kick-off won't play a part in his team's preparations.

"Last week we played 6.30 at night, and now about 11am this week. It doesn't really matter," he said.

"It doesn't change the job, you've just got to go out there and do it. The boys are just keen then anything, playing on the big stage in front of a crowd. It doesn't matter what time of it is, the boys would be up for it."

One player that Panthers will have to keep their eyes on is Daniel Mortimer.

The former NRL talent, who signed for CYMS ahead of the eventually cancelled season last year, will make his Group 10 debut as captain of the Orange side this Saturday and Hewitt wants to make sure his team shuts him down.

"It always helps if you can shut down a guy like that," Hewitt said about Mortimer.

"It is a team sport and if their forwards aren't going forward, he can't really play off the back of it.

"It's one thing for our team, everyone has their job to do and they don't have to go too much beyond that.

"That's what we base our team around and if we can shut down Mortimer, that's one job done but if the forwards can win the battle through the middle, that's one massive job done."

By all reports, Hewitt is expecting a tough game against CYMS, let alone from Mortimer.

"It's their first game of the Group 10 season," he said.

"They played well in the knockout. By all reports they had a good trial result against Dubbo CYMS, getting a win there. Dubbo CYMS being one of the better teams out that way, it's hard to beat them, so they must've been pretty good.

"CYMS are a team you don't take lightly and I think they'll be one of the teams to beat this year.

"It'll be good to see where we're at early. It's going to be exactly the same as last week, a hard opening 20 minutes and then after that, it'll be about who can weather it the best."

The Panthers match with CYMS is the first of three games on the day, with the Penrith Panthers to play the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the NSW Cup at 12.40pm, before Penrith Panthers and Manly Sea Eagles battle it out in the NRL at 3pm.

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