Mudgee has been drawn Group Nine club Young for its first pre-season clash of the 2019 season, with new coach Jack Littlejohn throwing the Dragons' hat in the West Wyalong Knockout mix later this month.
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The draw for the lucrative tournament, which will run on February 22 and 23, was delayed after a lower-than-expected list of nominations in 2019.
The knockout is traditionally well supported by Group Nine clubs, and that is again the case in 2019 despite their own nines tournament being run on the same weekend.
Four of the 10 teams in this year's competition are from the Riverina stronghold.
Southcity kick things off at 7pm when they tackle Tullibigeal Lakes United, Temora then tackles Griffith Black and Whites at 7.40pm.
Brothers play hosts West Wyalong at 8.20pm with the Cherrypickers taking on Mudgee in the last of the five first round clashes at 9.40pm.
Darlington Point Coleambally and Goulburn face off in the other game at 9pm.
New Brothers coach Peter Little is excited to take on the hosts.
He think it is an ideal way to kick start their preparations for the season.
“It’s very exciting,” Little said.
“Half the crowd is there for one team and one team only and they love to try and win their own comp, as anyone would on their home ground.
“They are a good side, always turn up for their knockout and it will be a great test for us to see where we are at.
“It will be a great game and they will come out with everything being the host team.”
Brothers are expected to take their full strength side with the exception of halfback Cameron Breust, who is recovering from ankle surgery.
After being knocked out in the preliminary final last year, the Wagga side has welcomed in a couple of new faces in Dylan and Tyson McLachlan from Kangaroos.
With the addition of the playmaking options Little is looking to play in the centres this season.
With only 10 teams taking part this season there has been a significant change to the usual way the tournament progresses.
Knockout co-ordinator Nicole Wood revealed the two worst performing losses will be knocked out on Friday with the remaining eight teams then ranked heading into the quarter-finals.
The top side will play the eighth ranked team in the first quarter-final at 4.30pm on the Saturday.
The third placed team then plays team six at 5.10pm.
Four takes on five at 5.50pm with the last quarter final at 6.30pm.
Teams will be ranked on for and against and then on the team scoring the most tries.
The winners progress through to the semi-finals, which start at 7.10pm.
The final is at 8.50pm.
