They returned to some of their best form against the Dubbo Demons last week and now Bathurst Bushrangers will be out to beat Orange Tigers at Bloomfield Oval tomorrow for a place in the Central West AFL grand final.

It’s been an up and down season for the Bushrangers, who made a strong start to the season before experiencing a form slump as an injury crisis hit the club.

However Bathurst turned it around, their football improving every week as players returned to the side and culminating in their 93 point demolition of fourth placed Dubbo on Sunday.

Despite not having beaten Orange this year, Withers said his side was confident it could earn a place in the decider and said showing form like last weeks would go a long way to doing that.

“We haven’t been at full strength all year but we are slowly getting back to full strength now and I think if we play like we did against Dubbo we are a good chance of winning,” Withers said.

“Orange were the most consistent side in the first half of the year but they have struggled a bit in recent weeks. But we still need to be wary and it’s finals football so we need to be on our game.”

Withers said it was crucial his side contains the Tigers in the middle of the park.

“Orange are strong through the midfield. They have good onballers and full forward so if we can restrict the ball they get, we will eliminate him,” Withers said.

The Bushrangers will have a short turnaround because of last weeks game being held on Sunday but Withers said he didn’t expect it to be a factor.

“I don’t think so. If we manage it correctly it should be fine. It’s something we are very concious of, being right at this time of the season,” Withers said.

“We had a lighter Tuesday session. There were a few people who were a bit sore after the last match but there are no real injuries [from the Dubbo game].”

One player who has recovered well is Leigh Kingwell.

Kingwell is a crucial player to the Bushrangers’ chances and he kicked six goals in his return from injury last week.

In a further bonus for the side Tom Mabon and Tom O’Brien are also a chance of returning to the side for the Tigers match.

Bathurst Bushrangers play the Orange Tigers at Bloomfield Oval at 2pm tomorrow.

BATHURST BUSHRANGERS SQUAD: Mick Montague, Paul Long, Hugh Alexander, Daryn Railey, Brian Matheson, Lincon Wilson, Matt Pakulshi, Nathan Belbin, Chris Long, Sam Morris, James Stiff, Anthony Wood, Peter Grundy, Jacob Fox, Peter Yandle, Robert Beaumont, Matt Luther, Steven Grundy, Steve Withers (c), Leigh Kingwill, Tom Mabon, Tom O’Brien.