It will be a welcome return home to Tony Luchetti Sportsground for all grades and also for the Wolves supporters on Sunday.

In Premier League Panthers sit in second place and will want to come home strong as the other finals bound teams have games in hand.

The Bathurst side was beaten last week by the Orange Cyms and will want to come out and prove their premiership credentials.

Lithgow lost 40-6 in the first round at Bathurst but a strong showing in front of a home crowd especially with the limited time fans have been able to watch the Wolves this season is good motivation to cause an upset.

They will miss the services of powerhouse front rower Chris Rhodes who has been ruled out for the season after getting injured in the round 12, 46-4 loss to the Orange Cyms.

Rhodes required surgery after he tore his pectoral muscle from the bone.

He was still looking forward the Panthers clash on Sunday.

“It has taken long enough to get a home game back.”

He said the Premier League team played well against Cowra last weekend except for a few 10-minute periods.

“If the boys can play football without the lapses we will give the other sides a good run for their money in the final games.”

Rhodes rated this weekend’s opponents as real premiership contenders after the touch up he said they gave them in their first game this season.

St Pats also look good he said compared to the top of the ladder Cyms.

The under 18s are the only Lithgow side that will figure in finals calculations.

In a ladder that needs some more clarification Panthers sit third and the Wolves fourth.

The Wolves have a few games not played that still need to be sorted out but under 18s coach Graeme Osborne said every game is a pressure game at this time of the year.

“We will endeavour to finish in the top three.”

The young Wolves have a tough run home in the last four rounds with games against the the higher positioned Panthers and Mudgee sides.

They also play Blayney who are not in the finals race and will have a bye after a scheduled match against the Orange Hawks who pulled out of the competition.

Osborne said the team was looking forward to the game as there have been not many opportunities to play in front of local supporters this year.

The under 18s are coming off a strong 40-12 win against Cowra last weekend while the Panthers will be looking to make amends for a 16-34 loss against front runners Orange Cyms.

In the Ladies League Tag competition Bathurst Panthers sit on top of the ladder with the Lithgow Wolves positioned at the other end.

While the Panthers ladies have a very admirable defensive record this season, the ladies Wolves have been able to find the line regularly.

It could make for interesting match up.