LEETON'S two Group 20 sides will both be competing at this weekend's Paul Kelly knockout, but neither are impressed with its timing.
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The knockout will be held this weekend in Darlington Point, just one week out from the season proper getting underway.
Leeton Greens coach Warren Weir believes the competition should have either been held earlier or not at all.
"I definitely don't agree with the timing this year," he said.
"It used to be where you'd have your rep teams picked, but those games have already been and gone.
"I don't really see the point of it to tell you the truth."
The Greens are in for an early start and then quite a gap in between matches should they be victorious.
Their first opponent will be the Griffith Black and Whites at 10am and, if they defeat them, their next game won't be until 2.40pm.
The Greens have had a solid pre-season, which has included a recent match up with Group Nine's Albury Thunder.
"That was a really good game for us ... we lost by three points and we had quite a few players out that we expect to be playing senior footy this year," Weir said.
"This weekend we will probably rest the guys we had playing rep, but the good thing is we have a lot of players knocking on the door for first grade selection, even for things like the knockout.
"The positive for me as a coach will be getting to see where we are and how some of the other teams are looking."
Yanco-Wamoon co-coach Andrew Smith shared similar thoughts to Weir and would have preferred the knockout the be earlier.
However, he was looking forward to seeing how his side was going to gel.
"It does give you an opportunity to see how you're looking and how your combinations are working out," he said.
"This is our first hit out ... we haven't played any trial games.
"Hopefully we don't have any injuries and we can look to our first game."
The Hawks will play Tullibigeal Lakes United at noon on Saturday.
If successful their next match will be at 4.40pm.
"It will be good for our boys to have a run and see where we are at," Smith said.
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