The Waratahs were able to make a successful start to the season with a victory over Yanco-Wamoon in round one while the Black and Whites fell to Leeton Greens.

Waratah's co-coach Trey Woodland feels this is a game that his side has been looking for.

"The local derby is always a bit clash between both clubs, and it is always a good day to put in the calendar," he said.

The Waratahs took one injury out of the clash with Adam Twigg hurting his ankle, and Woodland doesn't feel like the utility will be fit to take the field on Sunday.

"It's not too bad, and I saw him yesterday, and the swelling has gone down a bit, but it is still very bruised," he said.

"I think he will probably be an out this week, but we will give him some time to rest, it is too early in the season to be pushing your bodies."

The one thing Woodland feels that his side has worked in their favour is the depth that they have at their disposal.

"Last probably week or so, we have started to push our ressies," he said.

"We didn't have a game in round one, so we have been scrambling together to get all the boys keen and get a reserve grade together to help out first grade."

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Having been the benchmark team for the five or six years prior to the COVID recess last season, the Waratahs co-coach feels the side till has what it takes to get to the final weeks of the season.

"We have been working as hard as we can," he said.

"With the time that we have had off, it has been tricky trying to get everyone keen and motivated to play footy again, but we still have that core squad, so I'm confident we can still go deep into September."

Heading into the clash with the Panthers is expecting a physical side to match up against on Sunday, which includes Jonathon Sila, who played in the 2019 grand final side.

"They have definitely been recruiting pretty well in the offseason, and they have some big boys, so it will be a tough 80 minutes of footy," he said.

"We will see what happens on the field and whoever comes away with it will have the bragging rights."

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