Sharp's men narrowly missed out on being the first side through to this year's grand final, losing a thriller to Lithgow Storm in a penalty shoot-out.

That means in order to keep their hopes of a premiership defence alive, Pat's must survive a sudden-death match against Parkes.

Just when that will be played is yet to be determined, the initially planned slot on Saturday cancelled due to the NSW Health imposed a stay-at-home order.

Premier League Hockey officials have indicated they would - if the seven-day order is not extended - like to see the preliminary finals played mid-week ahead of the deciders on Saturday.

If that is the case the teams in the women's preliminary final - Orange CYMS and Orange United - could play on their home turf. But for Sharp's men and the Parkes outfit, who are based more than 150 kilometres apart, it would require evening travel.

"What my major worry is that we are not really concerned about the welfare of our players, they are our number one priority. That's what we are all about," Sharp said.

"Playing a mid-week is not, in my opinion, looking after the welfare of the players. Getting the guys to travel and meet halfway is unfair on us because we should be hosting the game and asking us to travel and not get around until 10pm - it's later for me because I come from Lithgow and three other guys in the team come from Lithgow.

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"It wouldn't be in Bathurst unless it's on Thursday night because the centre is closed. If they do that we get one day's rest and then we play the grand final.

"To do that and then turn around - the most important game of the year - on a Saturday, it's unfair on the playing group. That would hand Storm such a huge advantage given they're already in the grand final."

Sharp feels the fairest way to proceed for all the remaining teams is to push the grand final date back a week.

"The original reason they wanted to competition to end in July was because Country Championships were on soon thereafter, but they've postponed to another two months down the track," he said.

"So what's the problem with extending the competition to another week? It just makes it fairer on everybody."

While it remains to be seen who will join Lithgow Panthers (women) and Lithgow Storm (men) in the grand finals, Sharp has confidence his side can advance.

They have beaten Parkes four times already this season and though losing the major semi-final to Storm, still played some quality hockey.

"Whilst we did lose in the shoot-out, I think we still managed to maintain a bit of momentum. The Parkes game gives us an opportunity not to try a few more things, but cement a few ideas that I've been working on with our playing group and structure and style and hopefully win the game and be even better when we play Storm in the grand final," Sharp said.

"I still have plans in place, I just don't want those plans to be ruined by a schedule that is unrealistic and unfair."

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