Ilija Prenzoski (orange) is one of Tarrawanna's star recruits for the 2013 season.
FRATERNITY CLUB CUP
Tarrawanna have drawn what has been described as the Fraternity Club Cup "group of death", but coach Luke McGuire will value performance over results when the pre-season competition begins tonight.
Pitted against last season's treble winners Dapto Dandaloo, Wollongong United and Albion Park in the 12-team tournament, Tarrawanna face a treacherous path to make the competition's semi-finals.
The Fury and Blueys kick off the competition at Macedonia Park with Wollongong United and the White Eagles to follow.
McGuire has strengthened Tarrawanna's midfield with the acquisitions of ex-United star Ricky Goodchild as well as the influential Ilija Prenzoski (Cringila) and Andy Gamble (Wollongong Olympic).
He said his outfit had re-evaluated last year's campaign which fizzled out with back-to-back losses to Bulli and Port Kembla in the finals.
"To be fair we probably ran out out of goals and that was probably what halted us going a bit further," McGuire said. "I think as a whole we were pretty disappointing last season.
"I think third probably flattered us a bit in the league. We would string a couple of games together and then lose one and then in the semis we ran into two red-hot sides in Bulli and Port Kembla.
"[But] our committee worked unbelievably this off-season. I just identified a couple of potential targets and let them do the rest."
Steeled for the tournament with clashes against two NSW Premier League sides, Tarrawanna appear well advanced in pre-season preparations.
But McGuire said they would only contemplate winning the first trophy on offer this season if they were in a position to do so after the round-robin matches.
"I reckon it's a cracking draw," he said. "You've got two of the top three teams from last year and another that has recruited unbelievably well.
"If we get to a situation where it looks like we might be able to win a trophy then we'll re-evaluate again. It's pretty much all about getting match fitness under our belt and we're just trying to work on a few things."
The Fraternity Club Cup will feature a couple of invitees in 2013, with Shoalhaven Heads Berry and Southern Branch, a State League Two side this season, featuring in two of the four District League groups.