Four wins in a row. On their home ground. And we're starting to see the Forbes Magpies 2024 first grade side's true colours.

The Magpies overcame Orange CYMS in what looked like an arm wrestle early in the opening round of the Peter McDonald Premiership finals.

"We're starting to get that little bit of belief about us, starting to play the footy that we can play," veteran coach Cameron Greenhalgh said.

Defence, which is what Forbes has been successful with in previous years, was again a highlight.

"That's where we get our enthusiasm, off the back of our defence," Greenhalgh said.

"It gives us a buzz and then we can play some good attacking footy because we've got some really good players in the side who can really light up a game."

The teams went try for try in the first half, CYMS first to cross the line with Forbes responding to see the score 4-4 20 minutes into the match.

CYMS made it 10 but Forbes had the upper hand by half time - five eight Jack Smith slicing through to score under the posts to extend the hosts' lead to 18-10.

"I thought we got beaten to the jump, they were winning the field position and dominating us for a while," captain Nick Greenhalgh said.

But his side used it.

"We are really fit and we back our defence," Greenhalgh said.

"I thought our defence was pretty brutal on the weekend and it took a toll on Orange CYMS at the end there."

After a disrupted season with unavailability Magpies are pleased to have their squad fit and healthy at this stage - and in fine spirits too, Greenhalgh said.

"It's some of the young boys' first grade semi-final win so the boys were really excited and we earned it as well," the captain said.

"We know those performances have been coming all year, it's just been putting them into games and I'm glad that it's come off in a big game."

It marks a run of home ground wins and sets Forbes up for a semi-final against Dubbo CYMS on Apex Oval - the site of three previous grand final clashes between these sides.

"We made it tough for ourselves this finals series with the way we performed through the year," Greenhalgh acknowledged.

"It's been and up and down sort of year, it's been a little bit frustrating at time, it's good to know we've got those performances in us.

"We seem to be clicking at the right time - four on the trot now so hopefully we can make it five.

"We knew we'd have to win the big games to get to the big one so this is another stepping stone."

Heading into training this week, the side is preparing to lift again against a Dubbo CYMS side smarting from a loss against Parkes Spacemen in their quarter final.

Parkes winger Malakai Folau ran in four tries Spacies in their 32-12 win against Dubbo CYMS at Apex Oval.

"You expect a tough match when you come up against CYMS but knowing they've had that performance on the weekend you expect them to come out firing and it's going to take an 80 minute performance," Greenhalgh said.

He knows his side's got the energy and positivity required.

"I wouldn't change any of our boys for any other player in the competition," Greenhalgh said.

The other semi-final is another enticing clash as Bathurst St Pat's will host Wellington at Jack Arrow Oval also on August 26.

Forbes' reserve grade and under 18s sides will also be in action at Dubbo against Macquarie and Parkes respectively.

Parkes's first grade side has the week off before hosting the preliminary final on either August 31 or September 1.

The Spacies will play the winner of Wellington and Bathurst St Pat's.

The winner of Forbes / CYMS will face Mudgee.