Before a ball has even been bowled, many people in cricket circles have been predicting a huge season from Hillgrove.
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The Armidale District Cricket season begins on Saturday and crosstown rivals Easts and Hillgrove will get things going for round one.
While Easts are struggling big-time with numbers, Hillgrove don't have have that problem.
They have had a huge turnout to training and have added players to their roster.
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"We are going pretty good with numbers," Hillgrove president Dick Heagney said.
"It is probably as good as we have been for the last couple of years.
"We didn't really lose anyone, we gained Cotter Litchfield which will be a good bonus."
In addition to Litchfield, fellow Hillgrove teenagers including Sam Johnson, Ben Heagney and Hamish Biddle, have an extra season under their belts and will be nipping at the heels of the incumbent first graders.
Last season, questions were raised over keeping some of the older players in the top grade while the teenage talents were outperforming them.
Dick Heagney said he's happy to see the youngsters step up.
"For the moment, I could end up being demoted," he said.
"I don't really care.
"If they [teenagers] want it, they definitely have got the opportunity to take it with both hands.
"I don't even want to bowl again, I am happy for them to take more of a role.
"At the same time, they have got to stand their ground if they do get demoted, they can't just have a sook.
"Doesn't really worry me, I am there for the beers afterwards."
As for the match up against Easts, Heagney is aware whoever they put on the park will be competitive.
"They will always lift and we will always try and lift," he said.
"We are always pretty competitive with them, they had the wood on us a couple of years ago but we pulled it back a bit last year a couple of times."