To be held on Saturday at Yenda, the Greens are in pool one

Their first match up is with Hay at 2.40pm followed by an evening match up with the hosts in the Blueheelers. 

Greens coach Clinton Green was hoping for a successful outing. 

“We’ve got a few out, but we should have a pretty good side going over,” he said. 

“I think we’ll have a bit of a mix of young blokes and some older heads.”

The club will also be competing in the league tag division, with the Greens to play the Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters at 2pm and their second match is against Yenda at 5pm. 

The Greens have had a solid off season, picking up numerous players from rivals Yanco-Wamoon, as well as building on their younger talents. 

The side recently travelled to Canberra for three trial matches, coming away winners in their game against Woden. 

Green was happy with how first grade were progressing ahead of the Group 20 season, which gets underway on April 15 against the Blueheelers. 

He plans to use the knockout to test out some of his strategies for the year ahead. 

“That’s what these competitions are really all about,” Green said. 

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“We’ll work on some of our combinations and switch some of our players around in different positions. 

“We’ve got a few new faces, so we’re all still working on gelling together. 

“It would be good to get a couple of wins, but we do want to use it to test a few things out as well.”

Saturday’s temperature is expected to reach 37 degrees, with match fitness to also be tested and will play a factor. 

“That’s what it’s all about as well … that match fitness,” the coach said. 

“You can train as hard as you want, but if you’re not match fit, you’re not going to go very far.”

Yanco-Wamoon’s senior side won’t be playing in the knockout this year.

However, the club will have its league tag, under 16s and under 18s all taking part.

The knockout will then continue after Easter on April 7.