Representative cricket
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LEETON will be hoping to turn its SCG Cup fortunes around on Sunday when it hosts Griffith in round one of the knock-out competition at Mark Taylor Oval.
It has been several seasons since the Wolves won a game to start the state-wide competition and they will come under the leadership of first-time senior representative captain Steven Weckert.
"It's a bit exciting," Weckert said.
"It will be for one game then I think Brent Lawrence will take over."
Lawrence is unavailable for the first representative game of the year and last season's captain Adrian Axtill has effectively retired from representative duties, but Leeton will field a strong side that can build on last season's growth as a group that secured the Creet Cup.
With some of the best young players in the Riverina filling out the Wolves side alongside plenty experience, Weckert is happy with his team's make-up.
"Nathan Carn coming back in is a plus for us, but two out of the top four missing (Lawrence and Axtill) leaves a bit of a hole," he said.
"Brent Lawrence and Corey (Graham) opened in every game last year.
"We are still a strong bowling unit.
"Corey and Luke Rimmer were pretty young last year and it is time for them to step up. Josh Carn and Jarryd Day are the workhorses of rep cricket.
"(With the bat) Rohan Rehwinkle is in pretty good form at the moment. He goes in at five and will do a job for us."
However, Griffith is still an unknown and Leeton will be wary after falling short in the chase by 16 runs in a high-scoring first round match-up last season.
"I haven't had a chance to look at their side," Weckert said.
"I'm assuming it's roughly the same side we played last year, with the likes of Alex Flood, Connor Matheson, Tom West, the Burge brothers and Marc Tucker was captain last year. They gave us a bit of a touch-up in SCG Cup.
"Last year was the start of a development year. We've developed and grown as a unit since last season and I'm hoping to pick up from that."
The captain is not sure of a strategy for Sunday as yet, but is aware of how his side best performs and the intricacies of the Mark Taylor Oval wicket.
"It is an all round good wicket, it settles down in the afternoon," Weckert said.
"You get a bit out of Mark Taylor in the morning, but runs on the board are always a good thing.
"We tend to defend well as a Leeton side, rather than chase."
Team
1 Corey Graham
2 Mark Burns (wk)
3 Steven Weckert (c)
4 Jarryd Day
5 Rohan Rehwinkle
6 Nathan Carn
7 Mackenzie Saddler
8 Tim Rolls
9 Luke Rimmer
10 Sam Cooper
11 Josh Carn
12 David Tiffin
Representative training: tonight, Mark Taylor Oval from 5pm.