There’s only one team the green and whites haven’t beaten at that level, and the league tag Gods drew Skinner’s Rams up against that outfit – Illawarra South Coast – in round one.

A lethal mix of speed and skill has resulted in the Dragons eliminating Western in two consecutive championship campaigns, a first round exit in 2016 and then a semi-final showdown last season.

Skinner knows Illawarra will again be tough, but more importantly she knows they’ll be fast.

So the experienced mentor is planning to take on fire with fire.

Skinner released her 2018 Rams squad to take on the opening game of the championship on May 5, and it’s brimming with speed.

Heidi Regan, Sophie Stammers, India Draper, Amy Hewitt, Claire Woolmington, Erin Naden and Maddison Chapman are all lightning quick.

While in Mish Somers, Ella-J Harris and the stand-out pivot of Saturday’s Western cluster, Parkes’ Tyannua Goolagong Western has enough class in key positions to unleash its speedy outside backs.

Skinner is confident the 2018 Rams will boast enough firepower to overcome what has been Western’s biggest stumbling block at league tag country championships in the past.

“Illawarra is the only side we haven’t beaten … we really wanted to have the strongest line-up we could for this one,” Skinner said.

“It was difficult to select, the skill level is lifting and we saw that in the (8-4) grand final (won by Group 10) which was exciting.

“We’re full of speed, but we have to be. Illawarra is really fast themselves and we wanted to match that.

“We want momentum early and try and hold on to that. We’ll have to be strong defensively as well but these girls all tag really well.”

Skinner said she was hoping her bench, which will be confirmed in the lead-up to the championship opener, would separate Western from its arch rivals.

“We’re hoping to have a bit of impact there,” she added.

“There’s experience in the team in the likes of Soph and Heidi, but we’ve got a new name, too, in Tyannua, it’s exciting to see what she’ll bring.”

Western’s first training run will be at Rygate Oval, Wellington, on Tuesday night.