Parkes First XI cricket side will head to Alfred Oval to meet Young in the Lachlan Cricket Council competition this Sunday looking to start where they left off last season.
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After losing the experienced Rosser brothers, expectations were lowered for Parkes, but they easily exceeded them.
In what was billed as a rebuilding year for the First XI, they won the Western Zone Premier League and successfully defended the Grinsted Cup.
They will hope to start the 2015-16 season in the same vein against a largely unknown quantity in Young.
Parkes captain Anthony Heraghty believes his side can come away with the win by sticking to their game plan.
“We don’t know a lot about Young so we will focus on our performance,” Heraghty said.
“When you don’t know much you have to go into the match looking to do the basics well.
“When we bat, we will try to bat in partnerships, run well between the wickets and try and build pressure on their bowlers.
“In any match these days, you can’t win if you lose a lot of wickets in clumps.
“So when we do lose a wicket, we will look to rebuild another partnership.
“Our bowlers were fantastic last season and we will expect the same from them again this year.
“Hopefully we can build pressure by bowling good lines and restricting our loose deliveries.
“Our fielders will look to back up the bowlers by making stops and taking catches.
“It is what worked well for us last season and hopefully we can get it right again on Sunday.
“While we want to win on Sunday, we will be using the match to help prepare for next Sunday’s Western Zone Premier League clash against Dubbo,” he said.
While the local competition does not get underway until tomorrow, the First XI squad have been training regularly in preparation for Sunday’s clash.
Heraghty knows there is plenty of room for improvement in his squad, but is optimistic they can do well again this season.
“Last year we introduced a number of younger players and relied upon them to do well,” he said.
“They really stepped up and were probably the story of our season.
“They now have that extra year of experience and will look to do even better this season.
“With some of last year’s squad unavailable, Sunday’s match will see three new guys get a taste of First XI cricket.
“It is a real chance for the younger guys to step up and show everyone they belong in the squad.
“I am confident that if we can do the basics well, we have the talent to succeed again this season.”
