Joe Duffy will start second row for Graeme Osbourne's Group 10 side

The big man is three games into the 2021 Group 10 season and says those hard yards over the summer are paying dividends, and it's not just Duffy who thinks that.

His improvements have also stood out to the competition's representative selectors as he's been picked to start in the second row for Graeme Osbourne's Group 10 squad.

The All-Star outfit will do battle with Group 11 on Saturday as Lithgow's Tony Luchetti Sportsground will be the host venue.

So, how's the big dog feeling ahead of the showdown? Pretty stoked.

"Getting picked in the starting side's very exciting for me," Duffy said.

"Playing second row is obviously a bit different to the middle but it's something I reckon I can make work.

"I'm always surprised to get picked in sides like that. My form hasn't been too bad but my fitness has definitely improved... that's something I've worked on a lot so I'm happy my fitness is getting me over the line."

Playing in a Daniel Mortimer-led outfit, you can't exactly afford to be out of shape, something Duffy was mindful of what kind of a season he'd be in for in the months leading up to kick-off.

"With Dan coming in it was good because there was no certainty in positions," he said.

"I tried to do those fitness drills as hard as I could and get the most out of it and I definitely think that's showing, I'm feeling pretty fit."

As for Saturday's opponents, Duffy spoke about the unique challenges Group 11 brings.

"They play very exciting football and very expansively," he said.

"If we can just weather that early I think we can go alright."

Joining Duffy in the Group 10 are green and gold teammates Addison Williams, Lachie Munro and Ethan Bereyne... the trio have also enjoyed cracking starts to the winter.

"They're going awesome," he said. "It's really good to play with Addy [Addison Williams]."

"He's someone I coached in the juniors. And playing with Ethan [Bereyne], he's a big body and he's really good out wide. He always shows up to play."

It might be his first time starting at second row in the top tier, but according the Duffy, Osbourne has been pretty relaxed about the change.

"I had a chat with him [Graeme Osbourne] on Wednesday and he just wants us all to go out there and play footy," he said.

"He knows we've got our own club connections and if we can stick to them and get down the other end of the field, we'll just work from that.

"It'll mainly be defence for us and just weathering that storm." Three grades will partake in the Group 10 vs. Group 11 concept, with the women's league tag kicking things off at 12.30pm, before under 18s take it away at 1.30pm.

First grade will round things out at 2.45pm.

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