This Saturday will mark 13 weeks between winter sports seasons were put on hold and then eventually cancelled and the first ball being bowled between Leagues and Hanwood.

Hanwood captain Charlie Cunial said his side were keen to return to the middle.

"Everyone is pretty pumped up to be playing some cricket again," he said.

"Everyone has had close to two to three months off from any kind of sport, and the boys are chomping at the bit to get going."

There has been little in the way of turnover for the Hanwood side, and Cunial said he would be heading in with a similar side to the one that claimed the premiership over the Panthers in the 2020/21 season.

"We are looking really good, and we have pretty much the same side as last year," he said.

"Prince (Talwinder Singh) probably won't be playing this week because he is in Victoria, and obviously, we have lost the Rowston boys."

With the holes that have been left vacant, Cunial said it would be a chance to give the younger boys at the club a run in first grade.

"We are only going to have a few of the younger boys get better throughout the year," he said.

"Doc (Luke Docherty) is feeling good and putting the ball in the right areas, which is good to see."

Looking ahead to the game itself, the Hanwood skipper feels there might be a bit of feeling in the clash, with it not only being the grand final rematch but also a clash against the Rowston brothers, who left in the offseason.

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"They (Leagues) have lost a few, but they have also gained a few, so it is hard to tell," he said.

"Obviously, the first round of the year, you never really know what to really expect from the other teams. There will be a bit of feeling in the game, I would have thought, and it will be a tight contest.

"That's what has happened, and it might add a little bit to it, but at the end of the day, we are going to play tough and fair cricket."

The first ball of the new season will be sent down at 1pm on Saturday.

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