Cardiff coach Danny Priest wants to see the Hawks making a mark in the Black Diamond Cup finals again this season.
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Having missed the play-offs in 2020 and last year's competition being cancelled in August because of COVID, the club's most recent title tilt for the men's main grade came in 2019.
And after opening this campaign with back-to-back wins over Newcastle City and Warners Bay, the Hawks arrive at Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against Killarney Vale on Pasterfield Sports Complex (2:45pm) with renewed confidence.
"To think we'd be sitting in that spot to start the year, after not playing finals the last couple of years," Priest said.
"The last time for Cup was 2019 so as long as we get to that point, we'll go from there."
Killarney Vale are also two from two, knocking off Maitland and City after their local derby with Terrigal-Avoca was washed out.
Bombers strike weapon Tim Oosterhoff, the 2018 Elliott Davey Medal recipient, has bagged 18 goals with Priest likely matching up Cardiff's Liam Cathcart.
"Liam Cathcart will go to him, trying to get the match ups right when you go head to head," the Hawks coach said.
Cardiff are still without new recruit Trevon Sherrin while Bryce Graetz, Callum Spoor and Jack Lennon are also unavailable.
However, Swans under-19 representatives Lachlan Macnamara and Billy King are free to play for the Hawks.
"Billy is a massive in for us in the ruck. He's a 200-centimetre, 17-year-old. I'd be very surprised if he's playing in Newcastle next year," Priest said.
Elsewhere in Saturday's round-four fixtures, Newcastle City and Maitland meet at neutral venue Feighan Oval (2pm) while Singleton host Terrigal-Avoca at Rose Point Park (2pm). Warners Bay has the bye.
In the women's Black Diamond Cup there are three double headers on Saturday - Cardiff v Killarney Vale at Pasterfield (10:45am), City v Maitland at Feighan Oval (12pm) and Singleton v Terrigal-Avoca (12pm). Warners Bay visit Wyong Lakes at Northlakes Oval (12pm).
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
