The decision proved a success, despite inclement weather, and Macquarie prevailed 14-8 to win the trophy.

Fast forward six months and tonight’s trial at Apex Oval has all the hallmarks of a grand final replay with the two sides again playing under lights.

While two points are not hinged on the result, everything else will be business as usual with the atmosphere of a night game and no doubt a passionate crowd on show to support their teams.

CYMS co-coach Justin Yeo was looking forward to the clash and gauging where his side was at in the lead up to the season proper.

“Macquarie are usually pretty well progressed by this stage of the pre-season and we have a number of new blokes so it will be a good test for us to see how we’re going,” Yeo said.

For many, it will be a first look at the 2009 versions of CYMS and Macquarie ahead of the round one clash between the two on the weekend of May 9.

And for CYMS in particular it is something of a new look side with the likes of Western Rams representative Blake Tremain-Cannon and former Narromine Jet Mark Kilby entering the fray and Tim Ryan returning after a year out through injury.

“Tremain-Cannon is a very sharp footballer and while he is in the halves in the rep side he has a lot of pace and we want to play him at fullback to give him a bit of room,” Yeo said.

“He comes with experience and has been great for the club so far.

“Tim Ryan was out for 12 months with a torn pectoral muscle and has been training the house down. He is a matured footballer so his influence on the younger players will be important.

“We will also be looking for guys like Ben Bruce, who had his first year in the top grade last year, to step up another level along with blokes like Mark Penman in the front row.

“Penman played reserve grade last year but has had a good off-season and is one of the guys who has shown good form in the trials who we’re looking to give an opportunity along with Tom Besgrove and Kaine Ashby in the centres.”

Meanwhile Macquarie is looking forward to fielding at least five of last year’s under-18 premiership winning side in their first grade line up tonight.

Brodie Chapman, Lawrence Fogg, Steve Riley, Craig McLean and Jeremy Smith will all get a taste of the action.

“We are blessed with a quality mob of kids,” Macquarie president Gavin Board said.

“There will be a lot of emphasis this year on getting those juniors a taste of first grade football.”

The evening will kick off at 6pm at Apex Oval with another grand final replay between premiers Macquarie and runners up CYMS in under-18s. Both sides will be missing key players who will be representing Western Rams in the NSW Country Championship final against Oxley Pioneers at Tamworth tomorrow.

The juniors will be followed by reserve grade with first grade likely to kick off at about 8.30pm.