This week's pre-season meetings with Eastern Suburbs not only provide the chance to see high-level cricket early on, it also starts the preparation of the Dubbo and Orana Outlaws representative sides.
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The matches at No. 1 Oval, a Twenty20 under lights on Friday and a 50-over contest on Saturday, are a chance for Dubbo players to blow out the cobwebs and push their case for further representative selections early in the season.
The early rounds of the statewide Plan B Regional Bash are again expected to be played early in the season so Friday's meeting with a strong opponent provides perfect opportunity for players to get back into the swing of things.
Dubbo has named a strong squad for the contest, with Mitch Bower returning to the representative fold to captain the side while fellow experienced representative campaigners Mat and Steve Skinner and Chris Morton also made the side.
CYMS under 16s player Tom Coady has been named as wicket-keeper while Cougars teammates Ben Knaggs and Bailey Edmunds have also been selected.
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Parkes brothers Myles and Blake Smith, eligible for selection in the Outlaws squad, have also been named for the contest.
"We're using the Twenty20 as a trial for the Outlaws and it's a bit of incentive to get the guys keen," Mat Skinner, who captained the Outlaws at one point last season, said.
"This is a chance to have a hit and the Smith boys are keen and that's good.
"We've got Mitch Bower back on board and it's good to have a big name like that, and then on Sunday we're rewarding the guys who won last season's Western Zone Premier League."
Skinner captained the Dubbo side to representative success last season and will be skipper again on the Saturday.
Eight players have been named to play in both matches against what is expected to be a strong opposition.
The Easts side is captained by former Dubbo junior and one-time Australian under 19s representative Tim Armstrong and he was the major driving force in making the games happen.
"Usually city boys don't like coming out," Skinner said.
"But it's really good of Easts to come out."
Armstrong and some of his fellow Easts players may feature in the Dubbo sides at some stage across the two days given they are further ahead in their preparation for the new season.
Skinner added he was pleased to have a number of Dubbo players put their hand up to play after representative selection at times last season became a real struggle.
Anyone who remains interested in playing representative cricket for Dubbo, particularly in the Brewery Shield, can contact Skinner on 0418 357 262.
The action on Friday night at No. 1 Oval starts at 6.30pm before Saturday's one-day contest at the same ground starts at 10am.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
