The SG Ball Cup under 18s team includes five players from last year’s Harold Matthews Cup under 16s grand final - captain and halfback Drew Hutchison, centre Dee Jay Harris, back-rowers Luke Monds and Dylan Lauri and front-rower Abraham Atallah.

Talented lock Jack Bird is out for the season because of anterior cruciate ligament damage.

Ball Cup co-coach Brad Hughes said it was a tribute to Hutchison’s skills that he had been appointed captain a year young.

‘‘Drew’s core skills of catching, passing, kicking are very impressive and are essential skills for a halfback,’’ Hughes said.

‘‘We’re looking at him being our coach on the field and implementing the game plan that the coaches have set.

‘‘He has tremendous vision, good communication skills and he displays maturity beyond his years.’’

Harris is expected to make his mark in Ball Cup.

‘‘We’re really looking forward to seeing Dee Jay play this year,’’ Hughes said.

‘‘He’s a very explosive ball runner and a key strike player for the team.’’

A newcomer to the team is back-rower Euan Aitken, a St George Illawarra recruit from South Pambula.

An Australia and NSW schoolboys representative, Aitken has been contracted to the Dragons for a couple of years and has been part of the AIS program under the coaching of former St George premiership fullback Brian Johnson.

‘‘He’s been really impressive and comes with a really good skills set,’’ Hughes said.

‘‘He’s someone we’re really looking forward to developing through the club’s pathway.’’

Hughes has been happy with the team’s continued improvement throughout three trial matches.

‘‘It’s always a challenge playing against the bigger Sydney teams,’’ the co-coach admitted.

‘‘Freddy Thurgate has done a wonderful job in our strength and conditioning and we’ve worked really hard through the preseason.

‘‘We’re very confident that if we can hang in with Parramatta we will be very successful in the back end of our halves because of our superior speed and skill.’’

Kick-offs: 4pm, Matthews Cup, 5.30pm, Ball Cup.