The two women’s sides have been on different pages of the unregistered player fiasco that has blighted the Premier League Hockey scene in 2016.

Souths went to Parkes in their last match a fortnight ago and, by all reports, were more than happy to come away with a 2-all draw from a tough road trip.

That result got overturned and Souths were handed a 5-0 win, thanks to the hosts playing an unregistered player.

In round one, Ex-Services fielded one themselves after being given assurances that they would not face a penalty, only to cop a ruling weeks later rendering their result – a 3-1 win over St Pat’s – null and void, turning it into a 5-0 loss.

The upshot of it all is that Ex-Services go into today’s game in third on 10 points, with Souths in fifth just two points behind them.

“We were pretty happy just with the draw in Parkes. Not a lot of teams will go over there this season and come away with points,” Souths’ coach Adrian Cox said.

“We go into this week in reasonable form coming off a good win before that game and then the draw, but we are a different team each week at the moment with the players we’ve had coming and going.

“At the start of the season we knew what direction we wanted to head in. We had eight new players and a new coach for round one and so far we haven’t been able to field the same team two weeks in a row.

“It makes it hard, but we are getting there.”

Once more Souths will be without Mish Somers this afternoon as well as Maddie Boyce, two of their most important players.

Ex-Services’ veteran Mel Hope has gone on the front foot this week in regard to their points debacle and indicated that the situation has fired her side up ahead of the clash and, based on their general form over the last few seasons, Souths can expect a tough clash.

“I haven’t seen Ex-Services play yet. The only teams I’ve watched have been the ones we’ve come up against, but I know they’ve been there and thereabouts in the finals over recent years,” Cox said.

“They’ve got a pretty strong defence and what we’ve really stressed about the game this week is working as a team and pushing that teamwork factor. If we’re all going the same way and doing little things on the field for each other, it makes it so much easier.

“We’re in the middle of a tough draw at the moment. We’ve had away trips to Parkes and now Orange and have our next four games away as well. 

“But it all balances out in a home-and-away season and means we’ve got a good home run coming towards the finals.”

Souths play Ex-Services in Orange from 1.10pm.