WESTERN Zone coach Matt Crawley believes next week's trial match against Hawkesbury at Dubbo is a great opportunity for the region's cricketers to start the season on the right foot.
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The two sides will meet in a pre-season trial and while a preliminary team was announced last week Crawley admits with winter sport finals and fitness issues there are likely to be a number of changes to the final make-up of the team.
"It's absolutely perfect to start the representative season to play a quality side, a Sydney first grade side, so it's a wonderful opportunity for our guys to kick-start their season," he said.
Western were disappointing at last season's NSW Country Championship, failing to record a win, but with an extended squad at his disposal this season, Crawley is keen to see the players stake their claim early.
"We're not aware of any new players in the zone, except Will Lindsay returning to play for Mudgee, so it's certainly an opportunity for someone outside to make an impression," he said.
Pat Rosser has been named but is unlikely due to his rugby league commitments with the Parkes Spacemen while Crawley highlighted youngsters Cameron Litchfield from Orange and Cowra's Jacob McNaught as players he is keen to see continue their progress this summer.
Western played Hawkesbury in a similar match last season with the Sydney side victorious by three runs and Crawley admitted in a match like this the result wasn't the most important thing.
"That's not what it's about, we've got seven or eight options with the ball that we'd like to look at so it's about trialling the blokes and giving them some game time," he said.
The match will be played on Saturday, September 20, most likely at No. 2 Oval.
o WESTERN ZONE (subject to change): Pat Rosser, Chris Boothroyd, Jackson Coote, Tim Cox, Mick Curtale, Anthony Heraghty, Will Lindsay, Charles Litchfield, Jacob McNaught, Jordan Moran, James O'Brien, Ben Patterson, Josh Toole, Brent Tucker.