The Platypi mentor said it is vital to “hit the ground running” this season after Forbes just missed out on a place in the Blowes Clothing Cup semi-finals last year, partly due to a poor start.

“I make no secret of the fact that I think you really need to hit the ground running and certainly our very short term goal is to have a three grade win to start the year,” Prior said.

Prior said the Platypi have had a good response from players in the pre-season and the club has named full and strong squads for first and second grade and colts against Mudgee.

“We’ll have a pretty competitive [first grade] side,” Prior said.

“The numbers at training have been terrific these last few weeks and the boys are really responding well.”

Prior said the first grade team would feature some new names, with “exciting young prospect” Johnny Ward to make his debut for Forbes, and fellow British import Charles Grace to also start at breakaway.

Central West Blue Bulls representative Jack Hammond is a relative newcomer, at least to the top grade, and will line up in the outside backs.

Prior said any of the players in the two senior squads would be at home in the first grade team, which was a positive sign early in the season.

“It’s nice to know those numbers are there,” he said.

“It puts a bit of pressure on those in the top grade to perform otherwise they will be giving their guernsey to someone else next week.”

Saturday will mark Mudgee’s return to the Blowes Clothing Cup after several years in Central West Rugby’s second tier competition.

Phil Prior said he hoped a strong home crowd would gather at Grinsted Oval on Saturday to start the season and he invited supporters to join the players after the games in the rugby clubhouse.

Forbes Platypi: 1 Kyle Sharpe, 2 Greg Moxey, 3 Jarrod Hall, 4 Andrew Hubbard, 5 Nathan Suringa, 6 James Palmers, 7 Charles Grace, 8 James King, 9 Simon Flynn, 10 Matt Roylance, 11 Darryn Piper, 12 Jack Hammond, 13 Joshua Coulthurst, 14 Johnny Ward, 15 Graeme Crapper.