New coach Duncan Cameron, who organised four pre-season games, is looking forward to getting an early indication of how his side is travelling when they take on South Wagga on Sunday at Wagga.

A number of players have moved up from the club's second grade, with nine fresh faces in the top grade squad this year.

Cameron's keen to see how youngsters Kodi Thompson, Alex Freeman and Javarn Hurcum handle Sunday's season opener.

More experienced players including Patrick Hislop, Mitch Cameron, Mat McKnight, the returning Jordan Osmond and new recruit Liam Cheyne will lead from the front.

"Our goal is to make the top two and get a second shot at the grand final. Then obviously [the goal is] to win the competition. But we want to get to that top two. And also win all our home games," Cameron said.

The Lions women, after winning last year's second grade premiership, will challenge the Football Wagga women's first grade competition.

Fixtures:

Saturday: 3^rd grade men v Tumut at Tumut 3.25pm

Sunday: Lions women v South Wagga at Wagga 11.05am, 2^nd grade men v South Wagga at Wagga 1.10pm, 1^st grade men v South Wagga at Wagga 3.20pm.

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