Maitland’s generation next  in the guise of young teens Clayton Small, Trent Park and Will Fraser have been playing a valuable role in the team’s unbeaten start to the A-grade pennants season.

In the first round Maitland ­dispatched last year’s premiers The Vintage 3-2, beat Scone 4-1 last week and face perennially strong Muswell-brook at Singleton on Sunday.

“We will really know just how good we are looking if we manage to beat Muswellbrook,” Melville said.

“You couldn’t ask for a better start so far and it’s great to have the young blokes play a big part in that.”

At 42, Melville is the oldest member of the team, which also includes Chris Burdekin, Dave Connaughton, Steve Lill and Andrew McKenzie.

Another club young guns, 19-year-old Hayden Gulliver played in the first round against The Vintage, but has pennant commitments in Sydney and is unlikely to feature again this year.

“There’s only a handful of the old stalwarts left. Young Clayton, Trent and Will are all obviously the future of the club and it’s good to get them out there and get some experience in the top grade pennants,” Melville said.

He said the switch back to a five-man team format was an excllent move and would lead to a more even competition.

“I think what it does is bring a lot of the teams back to a more even keel, “ he said. “On the weekend we saw Stonebridge tie with Muswellbrook. That’s something we are going to see across this year, it’s going to be a good thing.

“It’s good to see the likes of Stonebridge and Kurri put a good competitive side on the field rather than just getting the players they can get because of shifts and rosters.”

Melville said the team would be picked on form, with two of the three youngsters rotated through each week.

 We’ll sort of rotate them through you can’t really send them in the deep end. They are probably talented enough to play each week, but we want to make sure they are looked after and are taken through the process.

“I’m probably the oldest in the side, but going around with the juniors is really rewarding as that’s how a few of us were introduced.

“It was great as a junior to get a chance to play with some of the older guys.”

Melville said he expected The Vintage and Muswellbrook to be the teams to beat again this year.

“I think it’s still The Vintage and Muswellbrook have always had a good side and do again this year,” he said.

“They have a lot of depth with a lot of colts, I guess rather than juniors, guys who are 20, 21 and 22 with a couple of older heads in there.

“We play Muswellbrook this week so it will be a good test. If we win that would be the ideal start for us, get us a long way to we’re we want to be which is the final of course.”

Maitland will be without Park and Fraser this week as they have other golfing commitments. Clayton Small will play and will be joined by Melville, McKenzie, Burdekin and  Connaughton.