Matt Comerford makes his long-awaited return from knee injury when he lines up for the Maitland Magpies in a trial against Lake Macquare City on Saturday.
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It will be 18 months since the dynamic play-maker last donned the boots for the Magpies.
Comerford will be joined by the Magpies' other key recruits, star Lambton striker Braedyn Crowley and young defenders Joey O'Connor and Adam Blunden for the clash at Macquarie Field.
The Magpies also welcome back young gun Tommy Duggan after an aborted off-season transfer to Broadmeadow Magic.
Although they will sadly miss midfielder Ryan Broadley who has decided to move to Thornton Redbacks because work prevented him from fully committing to an NPL season.
"I'm happy with the way training is going. The new boys are fitting in well, Crowley's doing well, Cummo is having no problems with his knee," Magpies coach Mick Bolch said this week.
"It will be just about getting match-fitness back into Cummo's legs after 18 months not playing.
"The two young boys Joey O'Connor and Adam Blundon are fitting in very well. I couldn't be happier at the moment."
The Magpies are still seven weeks out from the start of the 2020 Northern NSW NPL season and the start of their premiership title defence.
They kick off the season on the road against their grand final conquerors Edgeworth on Sunday, March 22.
The Magpies have lost a heap of experience with former Socceroo Matt Thompson moving to Lambton, Alex Read transferring to Valentine and Ryan Clarke retiring.
However, Bolch is happy with the balance of the side going forward.
"We've got the same back four as we had last year and have added Adam Blundon and Joey O'Connor to it," Bolch said.
"They are both really good defenders, right fullback and left fullback. So we've got six guys vying for four spots.
"In the midfield we've got both the Swan boys (Andrew and Matt), Nick Cowburn and Sean Pratt fighting for three spots.
"Up front we've got Cummo, Crowley, Joel Wood, Jimmy Thompson, Tommy Duggan so there's plenty of competition for spots.
"It's a good spot to be in, there's plenty of competition there."
The Magpies will be without defenders Zack Thomas and Tommy Davies, who are both overseas, on Saturday.
"Andrew Swan has just resumed training so is still a few weeks off game time. It will give some of the young blokes a chance to see how they go in first grade," Bolch said.
