The Orange District Cricket Association’s Twenty20 competition received several expressions of interest from teams outside of Orange ahead of the 2014-15 season.

The ODCA held its nominations meeting at Riawena Oval on Tuesday night, and on top of the eight teams that have competed in the Twenty20 tournament the last two seasons, both Cowra and Lithgow have also put feelers out to play cricket under lights at Wade Park this year.

While yet to receive official confirmation on the new sides, ODCA president Mark Frecklington was very excited about the potential expansion of the upcoming Cup competition.

“I think it’s a good thing for cricket in Orange and our players, it gives them the opportunity to play teams they wouldn’t normally play against,” Frecklington said.

“There could be 12 teams (with the addition of Wanderers and another team) but at this stage we’re hoping for 10.”

On top of the Royal Hotel Cup expansion, the 2014-15 season is shaping up as a bumper one for the ODCA.

Up by two sides on last year’s figures, a total of 24 senior teams have nominated to play cricket across four grades this summer, with six teams - Centrals, Cavaliers, Orange City, Kinross, CYMS and Waratahs - again lining up in first grade.

There will be six teams in second grade and five in third grade.

The Centenary Cup, a pathway for junior cricketers into the senior competition, will boast seven teams this summer.

Frecklington said the separation of the second and third grade competitions from the outset this summer is a step in the right direction, with symmetry from first grade down to third grade the end goal.

“Ideally we’d like the same six sides in second grade as we have in first grade and this is a step towards that,” Frecklington said, with Wanderers and Gladstone both in second grade, pushing Waratahs and Cavaliers down to third grade this season.

Centrals, Orange City, Kinross and CYMS will also play second grade.

The ODCA season begins on Saturday, October 11.

There is a rules night for all captains at Riawena Oval on Tuesday, October 7, starting from 6pm.