The blockbuster pre-season trial has been months in the making, with Hanwood FC using its close ties to the powerhouse Premier League club, with favourite son Joey Schirripa playing at the Sydney club for six years.

Schirripa said he was very excited about what Manly’s trip to Griffith could mean for Hanwood FC and the sport in the city, in particular talented juniors.

“It’s very good for the club and the town because we haven’t had a professional team down here since Marconi about five or six years ago,” Schirripa said.

“And the whole club is really excited, we managed to get them (Manly) to come down here when they’re just four weeks from the start of their season so they have done us a really big favour.”

Given the opening round of the Premier League is close to their Griffith roadtrip, Manly have given Hanwood assurances they will bring many of their first-choice players, with the match set to be a spectacle for the sport.

Schirripa said it would be an “eye-opener” facing Manly, but backed his side to pull off a few surprises of their own.

“They’ll bring a strong side, Manly’s always been a strong club in the Premier League in Sydney, and I spoke to (coach) Craig Midgley and he said they would bring a competitive side,” he said.

“I just want them (Hanwood players) to get an idea of how the other half of the football world lives, it’s good for the young boys here.

“I had six good years there, and one of the things Manly does very well is their youth development system, which is possibly one of the best in the country.

“They’re the closest thing to a full-time club you’ll get outside of the A-League, because they have full-time coaching staff, that is their job.

“So I’m trying to strike up a relationship between the two clubs, and that’s growing at a pretty rapid pace so maybe make this a regular thing.”

Schirripa also hopes to establish a pathway between Hanwood and Manly, in the future of view of giving talented youngsters a trial with the blue-ribbon Sydney club.

Hanwood is yet to name a final line-up for the game, but it is set to be an extended squad, enabling as many of

the club’s players to get the chance to play the visitors.

“We’re going to have a few of our senior boys away that weekend, which opens up the chances for the young guys,” Schirripa said.