Orange CYMS captain-coach Daniel Mortimer has sung the praises of the new competition structure that will see the club look to open their account against Dubbo CYMS.
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The newly formed Peter McDonald Premiership will combine sides from Group 10 and Group 11 competitions for a 13-team western competition.
Mortimer was pleased to see an old rival up first.
"We had a pre-season trial against Dubbo CYMS last year for the first time in years and it was really good," he said.
"There's an old standing Foundation Fathers Cup that usually got put on the line in that trial, but it looks like we may actually get to play for it in a round game, which will be awesome to start the year.
"That will be a big blockbuster round one hopefully and to give a chance to bring that Cup back to life would be a great opportunity for both clubs."
But despite that possibility of bringing home some silverware early on, they won't be making too much of the match, regardless of the result.
"It's a long season and we won't ride or die on that first match but it will give us a good idea of where we're at and what we need to work on," Mortimer added.
"The earlier you get those big games the better because you can start to really critique that game and learn from it. I'm really excited by it."
With a 16 round competition, each of the 13 sides will play a 14 match schedule, with CYMS having the bye in week 3 and 6.
Overall, Mortimer believes the new structure will be a good thing for the sport out west.
"This year was pretty hard to do with only five other teams," he said.
"Hopefully it reinvigorates a bit of energy into the western comp and to be able to play teams across Parkes, Forbes, Nyngan, Dubbo is exciting because they're teams we don't usually get to put ourselves against.
"I know at the club we're really excited about the prospect of playing new teams, but also it will be a bit more weight on the premiership this year being the first ever western comp, which is a big reason why I stuck around.
"There's some great teams in Group 11 and great teams in Group 10 and there's always the rivalry about which group has the best teams and I guess we get to find out next year, which is awesome."
Full Orange CYMS draw:
Round 1 - April 2-3: Orange CYMS host Dubbo CYMS at Wade Park
Round 2 - April 9-10: Nyngan Tigers host Orange CYMS at Larkin Oval
Indigenous All Stars Game - April 15: G10 v G11
Round 3 - April 23-24: Bye
Round 4 - April 30-May 1: Orange CYMS host Bathurst St Pats at Wade Park
Round 5 - May 7-8: Orange CYMS host Mudgee Dragons at Wade Park
Round 6 - May 14-15: Bye
Round 7 - May 21-22: Orange CYMS host Orange Hawks at Wade Park
Round 8 - May 28-29: Orange CYMS host Lithgow Wolves at Wade Park
Round 9 - June 4-5: Bathurst Panthers host Orange CYMS at Carrington Park
Round 10 - Long weekend split round June 11, 18, 19: Cowra Magpies host Orange CYMS at Sid Kallas Oval
Round 11 - June 25-26: Lithgow Wolves host Orange CYMS at Tony Luchetti Oval
Round 12 - July 2-3: Orange CYMS host Wellington Cowboys at Wade Park
Round 13 - July 9-10: Bathurst St Pats host Orange CYMS at Jack Arrow
Round 14 - July 16-17: Parkes Spacemen host Orange CYMS at Pioneer Oval
Round 15 - July 23-24: Orange Hawks host Orange CYMS at Wade Park
Round 16 - July 30-31: Orange CYMS host Bathurst Panthers at Wade Park
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