The Batties won the first clash 29-28 but the Rams have had more success as they sit on 20 competition points in third, just two points above Mudgee who round out the top four.

Not only will the stakes be high in first grade, the second grade meeting will feature a pair of six-win teams as Mudgee and Blayney are both flying high.

Mudgee’s seconds also won the first meeting between the two outfits but the glaring difference for the Batties this time around is simple – it’s at Blayney.

Top tier coach Greg Horton spoke about the importance of playing at your own paddock earlier in the season and that’s rang true so far as sides are benefiting drastically from the home-field advantage.

Not only will the road trip challenge the Wombats but so will two key omissions as Dave Jessiman and Adam Rayner will be missing.

While Rayner and Jessiman are extremely important to the success of the team, Rayner knows it’s a good time for some of the up and comers to show what they’re made of.

“There’s plenty of guys in seconds that are more than capable of playing firsts,” Rayner said.

“It’s just about getting them out there giving them a crack.”

A win over Blayney could be paramount for the first grade outfit and its ladder positioning moving forward but Rayner is focused on taking each game as it comes and focusing on the table towards the end of the season.

“It’s something we need to build up to over time. It’s not something we need to rush into.”

“We just need to keep chipping away, one game at a time.”

Mudgee’s Westfund Ferguson ladies side will have the bye on Saturday after earning a comprehensive win over Orange City last-start.

The triumph saw the girls advance to fourth position on the ladder, a pleasing outcome for the girls as they set a goal to finish inside the top four at season’s end.

The women’s competition has been unprecedentedly dominated by West Wyalong as it has a 6-0 record with a stunning 373 points differential. Mudgee’s women’s side will play Dubbo after the bye.