His side is coming off a fantastic debut season in the Western Premier League (WPL) but Macquarie United coach Paul Crain expects a much sterner test this year.
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Macquarie United won last season's minor premiership before suffering a shattering defeat to local rivals Dubbo FC in the decider.
Crain is at the helm again heading into the 2021 season and his pre-season sessions will start in the first week of February.
The addition of strong Orange club Waratahs FC and potentially other sides like Mudgee to the WPL this year is expected to raise the level of competition while Macquarie will also be without the competition's leading scorer from last season, Jesse Spang.
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Spang has made the move to Sydney to further his career and while thrilled for the teenager, Crain is aware it leaves a hole in his frontline.
"Jesse is a talent and I've coached him for many years through junior rep and I'm not surprised he's gone down there," Crain said.
"We will miss him but we've got to work with what we have.
"That No. 9 position, we'll look for somewhere to take that spot and whether that's internally or externally we'll be having a look in pre-season and we'll give it a red hot crack."
While Spang has departed, the bulk of the squad which lit up the competition at times with scintillating attacking play last year will return.
That kind of play resulted in Macquarie losing just four times on the way to claiming the minor premiership.
While the decider defeat to the Bulls in the decider was painful, it was still a season to savour for Crain and his side.
"After last season I said to the boys we had to remember the bulk of the squad had not played together before," he said.
"We exceeded our expectations a little by winning the minor premiership and then making the grand final and getting beaten after playing 60 minutes with 10 men..
"We played really, really well."
Crain expects to have some new faces after players from around the region were able to see the quality and competitiveness in the return of the WPL competition last year.
Having not run since 2013, the league earned a huge amount of praise last season and Crain fully expects it to take another step forward this year.
"We'll be the same again. We'll be competitive but I expect the competition to be strong," he said.
"It's the next step. Traditionally players went to Western and then the NPL and Sydney and that's still happening but you can now still get a good level here.
"I think the WPL has been excellent. We're really excited to get back into it."
Pre-season starts on the first Tuesday evening in February and Crain said any new or interested players are welcome to join.
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.
