MICHAEL Sparks has only had five games with Orange City this season - but he’s already taking on a senior role in the first grade side.

The 26-year-old started the year playing union in the Netherlands before returning to Orange.

He played his first Blowes Menswear Cup game on June 21 when Orange City defeated Cowra 22-19.

Sparks, who has also played rugby in Chile, has added something new to the Lions’ attack - but his role is not conventional.

“It’s not a traditional fullback or five-eighth role,” Sparks said.

“I play fullback in defence and then I’m first receiver in attack. Mick Gray (Lions coach) asked me to take on a senior role in the backs and guide the boys around. The guys are enthusiastic and we’ve got a great backline.”

In City’s five-point loss to CSU Bathurst last weekend Sparks scored a try as well as kicking a conversion and field goal for a personal tally of 10 points.

“I’m happy with my own form but I’d easily trade it for the team to get some more wins,” he said.

Lions coach Mick Gray said Sparks has provided a boost for the first grade side.

“He has added a new dimension to our attack,” Gray said.

“For all intents and purposes he is our five-eighth.

“It means we can mix it up and it gets the opposition guessing.”

The Lions will need to be at their best tomorrow when they take on competition leaders Dubbo Kangaroos at Orange’s Pride Park.

The Roos have only lost one game this season but Gray believes there’s no reason why the Lions can’t give them their second.

“I think the last four or five weeks we’ve shown we’re pretty competitive,” Gray said.

“We weren’t expected to draw with Bathurst. If we make some comparisons we just lost to Forbes, who beat Roos, and we drew with Bathurst, who went very close to beating Roos.”

Gray added his players are keen to erase the 69-0 drubbing they suffered at the hands of the Roos in the first half of the season.

The Lions are four points outside the top five and are still a chance of making the semi-finals as long as they can secure some wins.

“At the start of the season I predicted we’d play Narromine at Narromine in the last round for a place in the semi-finals. We’ll have to see if my crystal ball works,” Gray said.

Adam Grant will start in the second row for the Lions after James Sheridan was ruled out with a corked thigh.

Tomorrow’s game will kick-off at 3.15pm at Pride Park.

ORANGE CITY: 1 Nathan Short, 2 Peter Friend, 3 John Gander, 4 James Weston, 5 Adam Grant, 6 Chris Barrett, 7 Mark Nunn, 8 Josh Tremain (c), 9 Ollie Stone, 10 Tom Sheridan, 11 Sam Coote, 12 Mitch McCabe, 13 Dan Muldoon, 14 Dan Sandford, 15 Michael Sparks.