Whitney Cup runners-up Newtown will go into the new season starting on October 9 with a new captain following the decision by Glenn Shepherd to hand over the reins to Will Lindsay.
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Shepherd has given a vote of approval for Lindsay, who had some experience as leader with Dubbo's Brewery Cup side last year in the Macquarie Valley competition.
"Will was also my vice-captain and I think he will do a fabulous job," Shepherd said.
"The position will give him more responsibility and focus and he is really keen to get into it and try a few new things.
"When the club considered its option in regards to a new captain, Will put up his hand and Newtown will support him.
"It's a job that I think he will handle well and if need be there's always someone close by to give advice. But really he's now the man in charge."
Despite his decision to stand down as captain, Shepherd will stay on as a player and is looking forward to another successful season.
Shepherd vacates the position as Newtown's most successful Whitney Cup captain.
Before he took over three years ago, Newtown had gone 30 years without winning the Dubbo association's first grade trophy.
He did that twice in his first two seasons before going down to Souths in the grand final last year.
"I'm looking forward to the break from the pressures of being captain, but that won't stop me enjoying my cricket," Shepherd said.
"Being captain was enjoyable and winning those two competitions was really something special.
"Maybe down the track I might put up my hand to be captain again.
"When I took on the job I wanted to give it three years then give someone else a chance."
As was the case last season, Dubbo senior cricket will start with two rounds of two-day cricket and then all one day matches right through until the end of January.
This means in actual fact only one round of two-day matches for the six teams.
The opening games on October 9 and 10 will feature premiers Souths against CYMS, Newtown and Rugby and RSL-Colts and Macquarie.
There will be a break for Christmas from after round nine on December 18 until round 10 on January 8.
There will be no general bye for the Derby Day races at Dubbo, which falls on October 30, the second day of the two-day match.
At the end of the season there will again be only a three-team final series that will feature teams two and three in the semi-final and the grand final between the minor premiers and winner of the semi-final.
The grand finals in Whitney, Pinnington and Kelly cups will be played on the weekend of March 19-20.
