Group 20 rugby league
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THE new-look Hay Magpies will be out to upset two of the form sides of the pre-season in Sunday's Paul Kelly Memorial Shield at Wade Park.
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Last season's wooden spooners have been drawn in a pool alongside Darlington Point-Coleambally and Bidgee Hurricanes the two local sides that impressed at last month's West Wyalong Knockout.
While the Magpies will be without former Kiwi Test prop Quentin Pongia, there are a number of fresh faces ready to make their first appearances in club colours.
English pair Max Edwards and Phil Crosby will get their first taste of local action this weekend.
Both were blessed with pace and ball skills that will endear them to supporters, assistant coach Neil John Nisbet said.
"We'll be rewarding the blokes who have done all the hard pre-season work.
"Hayden Deaton has been excellent at training, and he could see plenty of first grade this year, while Matt Whitehead is another to put his hand up for selection.
"Hayden has always shown promise and 2013 could be his year to deliver.
"We're very pleased with our preparations, and we are building up to what should be a good season.
"Shayne Kennedy, Dicko (Jermaine Dixon), John Weymouth, Pod (Simon Parr), Lloydie Schulz and Mitch have done all we have asked them this pre-season.
"They are itching to get onto the paddock, and Pat Miller, too, will be in the mix somewhere on Sunday."
The Magpies' squad will also include the nuggety Shae Tamati, who will likely be used in the second row alongside Will Sullivan, while Jermaine Dixon will switch back to the No.9 jersey.
Pongia's clearance has been sorted and the former Sydney Roosters player will make his Hay debut against Yenda in the first round of the Group 20 season.
Hay has been allocated host rights for the knockout.
"It is our first time as host to a big Group 20 occasion and it is a tough assignment, but we can do it," president Bert Matthews said.