The opening game will see Thursday night football light up Robertson Oval at Dunedoo when the Swans host arch rivals Coolah in a game that will be a test for both sides.

The Swans have been looking sharp in their pre-season hit-outs, being the winners of the Dick Large Memorial Carnival and also putting in a tremendous effort at the Castlereagh League knockout despite having quite a few of their players tied up with other commitments.

Coolah fans will be hoping their new captain-coach, Brad Sheridan, can quickly mould his young team into a winning combination, and if there is one thing for sure the Kangaroos will certainly not be lacking in spirit.

A large crowd is expected to witness the game that will kick off at 7pm and officially herald the start of the 2014 season.

Gilgandra officials are expecting a huge attendance at McGrane Oval on Saturday when the Panthers will be playing host to their 2013 grand final opponents, the Coonabarabran Unicorns.

It is history now that the Panthers narrowly won that game and they will be out to repeat the dose as they set about defending their premiership.

Their cause will have to be affected by the fact at least six of that winning combination will not be wearing Panther colours this year, including their captain, and NSW Country representative, Alex Prout, who has signed with the Parkes Spacemen in Group 11.

Along with Prout the Panthers will be without the services of hooker Shaun Ferguson (Tamworth), centre Danial Riley (retired), second rowers Jarrah McReaddie (Brisbane) and Matt Frecklington (injured) and lock Simon Cass (Walgett rugby).

However they will be bolstered by the return of their workaholic lock AJ Young and smart half back Luke Ritchie and their stocks are bulging with big numbers at training, providing coach Tony Wilson with numerous selection possibilities.

The Unicorns will again be captained coached by five-eighth Peter Watton who has done everything but win a premiership with his team during the past two years.

In fact the Unicorns have only lost four games during his tenure in charge of the blue and golds, going down twice to the Warren Bulldogs in 2012 and twice to Gilgandra in 2013.

Unfortunately in each year one of those losses was in the grand final.

Coona will be without one of their major strike weapons with damaging forward Mick Ryan, who has reportedly signed with the Wellington Cowboys.

Reports would also indicate that they have secured the services of Michael Watton, a talented half back, who will join the long list of Wattons who run out with the Unicorns.

The remaining games will see the revamped Trangie Magpies welcome back to Allan Burns Oval the Warren Bulldogs and the Gulgong Terriers will make the long trip to Coonamble.

The Magpies should attract a big crowd to their opening home game, with their pre-season efforts being impressive under their new coach Mark Gleeson.

Gleeson has put some good structure into the Maggies play and they are full of enthusiasm which should fully test the Doggies.

Meanwhile Gulgong will be hoping that they can pick up from where they left off in their last encounter against the Bears, which was a couple of weeks ago in the final of the Castlereagh League knockout.

In that game the Terriers were coming home all over the top of the Bears, registering three quick fire tries in the dying stages of the game, before going down by just two points.

Of course the Bears are always tough at home, and with their new captain-coach Brad Pickering having his team full of running a close and entertaining encounter is highly likely.