Clubs received a revised schedule last week after a host of complaints and requests were submitted following the release of the first draft early last month.

The new draw is barely recognisable from the last, but all Group 11 clubs will still play four crossover matches against their rivals in the Group 10 conference during the 16-round season.

The one possible point of conjecture in the draw is the Forbes Magpies meeting Bathurst Panthers twice in the four crossover matches while all other clubs play separate sides from the opposing conference.

READ ALSO:

- The $1 million boost to help ensure the best for city's junior footy players

- Crosstown moves boost Raidettes' hopes of rising further

- Hancock adopts hard yards approach to prepare young Rams

While the Magpies could potentially ask for the draw to be reworked again in order to change that, Forbes president Matt Jack said his club would live with it and there wouldn't be any complaining should the draw be locked in as is given his club is relishing the chance to be part of the new western-wide title race.

"This is the silly season in regards to Christmas and parties but it's silly season for footy too," he said.

"The rumour mill is crazy and you're trying to sign players and it's just going to be good getting back to playing footy.

"That lockdown is almost six months ago and footy was a bit of forgotten thing but it's just going to be good getting back and hopefully getting a full season in.

"There's bigger issues in the world than bush footy but if we can just roll into the new season, there's a bit of interest around this comp. People will be footy-starved because the last two years have been rubbish and next year I think you'll see big crowds and a lot of interest in it."

The big plus for the Magpies is they now have two matches against fierce rivals Parkes after only one clash was pencilled in originally.

"The local derby and there's a fair bit of rivalry that goes back a long, long time," Jack added.

The new season will start the weekend of April 9 and 10 and Dubbo sides CYMS and Macquarie will both be on the road.

CYMS will make the trip to Orange to take on Hawks while the Raiders will be in action against the Dragons of Mudgee.

The marquee match will be at Kennard Park, where the most recent premiers of both competitions will lock horns.

The Wellington Cowboys and Bathurst Panthers won their respective competitions in 2019 and, given no grand finals were played in each of the past two seasons, they remain the last premiers of their leagues.

Elsewhere in round one, Parkes will play host to Bathurst St Pat's, Orange CYMS face the daunting trip to Nyngan's Larkin Oval, and Forbes has the bye.

Cowra meet Lithgow in an all-Group 10 battle to round out the opening weekend.

Round two will also feature crossover games, with Nyngan home again to Orange Hawks, CYMS hosting St Pat's, Macquarie following its trip to Mudgee with the trek to Lithgow, Forbes hosting the Dragons, and Wellington hosting Orange CYMS while Parkes has the bye.

Every side in the competition will play seven home games, seven away games, and have to byes apart from Nyngan. The Tigers have been handed eight games at home and they are the only club to play three of their four crossover matches at home.

The one glaring absence in the revised draw is the lack of a CYMS derby between the powerhouse clubs from Dubbo and Orange.

The two CYMS sides had been pencilled in to play in round one in the first draft draw.

All Group 11 sides will have a bye the weekend of May 22, when South Sydney and the Canberra Raiders will do battle in an NRL clash at Dubbo's Apex Oval.

Both first grade and under 18s sides will be part of the new competition in 2022 while reserve grade and league tag remains in its original boundaries.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: