David Barrow, father of former Panthers coach Todd and 2018 premiership winning backs Jye and Kade, passed away suddenly at the end of last year.

During his sons' time at the Panthers, Barrow, a well respected figure in the Molong community, was a regular in the crowd alongside his wife Jen.

Panthers forward Jake Betts said the day will be a great occasion to recognise Barrow, a man he knew well, having also played alongside Todd, Jye and Kade.

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"When Dave passed away, we sort of came together as a club and wanted to recognise the Barrow family because they've been a part of the family," he said.

"Todd was captain-coach and the boys [Jye and Kade] won a premiership with us in 2018. We just wanted to do something to recognise their contribution and remember Dave.

"Dave was always at the games when his kids were playing. Dave and Jenny were big supporters of the club and not just us but Orange Hawks as well. That's why we planned to do this against Hawks because the family has an affiliation with both clubs."

Panthers are coming off a frustrating defeat to Mudgee last Sunday at Carrington Park, the 24-16 marking the club's first loss of the Group 10 premier league season.

Betts admitted the response from the team has been positive and said it was a loss to team needed.

"I think the response has been fairly positive," he said.

"I think we needed that loss, to give us a bit of a kick up the bum. Mudgee were just too good on the day, they just bashed us. They wanted it more and we just didn't show up.

"Just coming off a big win against Workies, we haven't really had a tough game for the last two weeks, so we were a bit underdone. It'll do us a world of good, the loss."

The last time Panthers played Hawks was at Mudgee for the first magic round of the season, with the Bathurst club too good winning 48-0.

Betts isn't expecting another easy win.

"I haven't really read too much into that game we beat them. That was just a one-off from them," he said.

"They just didn't turn up on the day, so we're expecting a completely different performance."

The club has made some slight changes to its line-up that lost to Mudgee last weekend, with five-eight Willie Wright out through suspension, replaced by Claude Gordon, who scored a try in Panthers' first division win on Sunday.

Ben Gunn has been moved from the second row to the centres, after Jeremy Gordon was dropped from the starting line-up.

Kick-off between Bathurst Panthers and Orange Hawks in the Group 10 match is from 2.15pm at Wade Park.

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