Gunnedah coach Dan Martin says his players are just itching to get out there after being confined to spectators for the first two rounds of the competition.
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The Red Devils will finally begin their minor premiership defence on Saturday when they host Scone.
The first grade side is yet to hit the field after having the general bye the first round, then last round being scheduled to play Barraba/Gwydir, who are now only playing second grade.
With their trial game at Coffs Harbour earlier this month called off due to the flooding on the coast, it means they will have played just one game - a trial against Tamworth - since August when last year's competition was suspended, and later abandoned.
"My guys are well and truly underdone in terms of match fitness and game play," Martin said.
"We've been combating that through training, but nothing replaces that game match fitness."
That touch and continuity likewise.
"Due to the lack of games, the timing and cohesion will probably be a little bit behind. But that will come," he said.
"I'm lucky that the squads are very similar to last season."
Although it's not, as he added, "quite like jumping on the bike and riding again".
It has also meant he hasn't had a lot of opportunity to see some of the new faces in a game scenario so is "still settling on things" as far as how they might fit into the picture, and combinations.They are fortunately pretty flush for numbers with "55-60 players on the books that have been training".
As great as that is though, it does make it hard when you get situations where there is only one game, as will be the case again on Saturday with Scone forfeiting second grade.
The Red Devils are coming off their best season for a number of years as underlined by winning their first minor premiership since 2004.
But there are aspects of their game they can certainly improve.
They will also be the hunted, rather than the hunter.
Accordingly, while not wanting to deviate too much from a winning formula, Martin spoke about needing to change his structure a bit and thinking, "to make sure we stay ahead of the game".Saturday will also see the Kookaburra Challenge Cup up for grabs the first time.
Introduced this season, as the minor premiers last year, the Red Devils are the first holders.
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