Fire a few shots early, then just keep on firing - this season is just nine rounds long and with only two weeks of finals, those that hit the ground running will feature in the big games.

We've got all the information you need to know - clubs, coaches, the key ins and outs and, of course, who we think will finish where - in this year's preview.

No Cowra is disappointing, obviously. Any time you lose a side it is.

But when one door shuts another opens, and in this year's season preview we're going to identify the one Eagle each of the remaining five Blowes Clothing Cup clubs must recruit in order to lift the trophy.

COACH: Phil Prior, Hare Lavaka.

PREDICTED FINISH: Third.

BIGGEST LOSS: Mahe Fangupo.

BIGGEST IN: Matt Coles.

THEY SAID IT: "The boys have worked really hard to get where they are. The players have maintained their fitness through their own personal training which has been inspirational," Platypi coach Phil Prior.

OUR SAY: There's been lots of movement at Grinsted Oval, with Molong star Josh Peffer and returning premiership-winner Matt Coles to bolster the Platypi backrow. While Red Bend teacher Andrew Sarrs has joined the club and will wear the No.10 jumper after playing a number of years in Sydney. But the biggest movement is undoubtedly the shift of Mahe Fangupo to Newcastle for this season. If the mercurial half stayed in Forbes, Prior and Lavaka have the side capable of winning the crown. How they cover Fangupo's loss will probably make or break the Platypi's campaign.

OUR WISH: It's not a big wish, but if the only thing we see out of the Forbes camp in 2020 is the continued flourishing of the Hall-Hammond bromance, then this whole COVID-debacle will be worth it.

THE EAGLE NEEDED: Jimmy Montgomery. Losing Fangupo is a big blow, we've waxed lyrical about that already. So adding Cowra's No.9 makes sense, right?

COACH: Pete Bromley.

PREDICTED FINISH: Premiers.

BIGGEST LOSS: Michael Graham.

BIGGEST IN: Archie Hall.

THEY SAID IT: "There's a lot of speculation about who's playing where and with league not on, there are some extra guys who might be keen. All the teams are going to be really competitive," Emus centre Nigel Staniforth.

OUR SAY: Lot's has been made about the recruitment of last year's Group 10 player of the year, Nathan Potts. Pottsy's old man, Geoff, has a long history at the club and won a few titles with the greens in the early 2000s. The Hawks lock won't start in first grade, but he'll be in the reckoning at some stage, most likely as a second-rower. Emus have lost title-winner Sam McLean and are stacked in the backrow, with the likes of Greatbatch, Marchinton, Badgery and Scott McLean, while former CWRU player of the year Andrew Selwood was training at Endeavour Oval before the COVID-19 lockdown.

OUR WISH: To one day hopefully see Archie Hall and former Bulldogs and Dragons firebrand James Graham in the same room, because until that happens, we're just going to go ahead and assume Emus have an English rugby league legend packing down in the frontrow. Spot the difference. You can't.

THE EAGLE NEEDED: Chris Miller. By and large, Emus look pretty settled. Still, get the Gooch in there.

COACH: Beau Robinson.

PREDICTED FINISH: Fifth.

BIGGEST LOSS: Mark Baldwin.

BIGGEST IN: Filisione Pauta.

THEY SAID IT: "I hate to be someone who speaks too soon and predicts the season but I genuinely think this Dubbo side is going to be a finals contender, I really do," Roos winger Tim Beach.

OUR SAY: Probably the hardest of the group to pick. Could be world beaters, but have promised to be decent for a few seasons now and delivered little more than disappointment. Winning at home is the key, while Beau Robinson wearing playing gear during a recent Roos trial is interesting. Although he was very quick to shoot down any talk of him making a comeback.

OUR WISH: To get an interview from Hamish Gordon, for one. He's as good as avoiding the media as he is as directing the Roos around. Which is very good.

THE EAGLE NEEDED: Joe Dakuitoga. The ball-playing prop was a sensation last season in red and white, and unlocking Roos' often-stagnant attack will go some of the way to helping Dubbo compete for a play-off spot.

COACH: Matt McRobert.

PREDICTED FINISH: Grand finalists.

BIGGEST LOSS: Buzz Webber.

BIGGEST IN: Phil Tonkin.

THEY SAID IT: "I'm just really enjoying have the players around and all the banter that goes on at training, the players have really put in a great effort," coach Matt McRobert.

OUR SAY: There's been plenty of speculation around the Bulldogs' line-up ahead of their premiership defence in 2020. No Webber is a blow, he's arguably the best back in the comp when he's fully fit. And while there's no Peter Fitzsimmons this week against Dubbo, the Dogs skipper is expected to work his way back into the top grade after missing the bulk of the club's training sessions since training re-started. It's always said the only thing harder then winning a comp is defending one, but perhaps the a band of young-guns can help Bathurst in its back-to-back bid.

OUR WISH: We wish, maybe, we hasn't predicted the Dogs to come second a fortnight ago ... you read that right. A young team has been named for round one, minus a few premiership guns, and that could mean the premiers start on the back foot. Which in a shortened campaign could be tough to bounce back from. Could the champs miss the finals?

THE EAGLE NEEDED: Tom Dewhurst. The Dogs look relatively young in the backrow, and adding the dynamic Dewhurst to the side of the scrum would be a wise addition.

COACH: Viv Passi

PREDICTED FINISH: Fourth

BIGGEST LOSS: Fletcher Rose.

BIGGEST IN: Steven Widders.

THEY SAID IT: "All the league guys are from first grade as well which is good. They brought a certain level of professionalism to training," City coach Viv Passi.

OUR SAY: The Lions have been bashed up now for two years straight. The addition of the likes of Rakai Tuheke and Widders will help short-term, no doubt, and certainly make the club competitive this year, but seeing the development of some of the Lions' young players will be the key to whether or not City roars again in 2020.

OUR WISH: Not going big here. It's a very realistic goal. Bring back the Wayne Train.

THE EAGLE NEEDED: Tim Berry. Adding Berry to the pack would give the club a weapon on the side of the scrum, a line-out presence and a level-head throughout what is shaping up as a tense 2020 season.