Fairy Meadow's Oliver Walker (left) and Uni's Matthew Burke duel for possession at University Oval last year.
ILLAWARRA HOCKEY
Can anyone stop University's incredible run of success in Illawarra men's hockey?
That's the big question facing the other six clubs when the 2013 competition starts tomorrow night.
Uni have been the dominant force in recent times, having won the premiership for the past five years in an amazing sequence.
But Uni won't be on the field this weekend as they start the season with a bye.
Albion Park pushed them all the way in last year's premiership decider.
For the fifth straight year, the Park were runners up to Uni in the grand final.
Nevertheless, under the coaching of Simon Beaton, Uni completed celebrations for their 50th anniversary in the best possible fashion by winning the premiership.
Beaton has relinquished the head coaching position this year but will continue as a senior player, his on-field presence one of experience and skills.
Heath Ogilvie has taken over as Uni coach.
Wests and Fairy Meadow will meet in the season opener at Illawarra Credit Union field, Unanderra, tomorrow night.
Wests have lost several players but in a significant move have appointed NHL player Cody Tribe as coach.
Alan Jamba also returns to Wests from a stint working in South Australia.
Jamba will strengthen their midfield especially as the Devils have lost Josh Gregory and will be without a number of key players tomorrow night, including Paul Burns.
"[Fairy Meadow] have gone through a quality rebuilding stage over the past couple of years," Burns said yesterday.
"They've got a really good, young, fit team at the moment. They're going to be a pretty tough ask I think in the first round."
With several senior figures absent, Wests will provide a chance for some of their younger players to compete in the top grade.
"It's a good opportunity for some of the younger kids," Burns said.
"We've got a good number of young kids coming through, which is good for the club."
In a significant player movement, Fairy Meadow have lost Shane McLeish to Albion Park, which is a big gain for Park but an even bigger loss for Meadow.
Two games are on Sunday, with Park playing Dapto at Croom Road and Robertson taking on Mittagong at Welby Field.
The Highlands teams are then expecting to play their home games on Friday nights, which should favour them with Robertson and Mittagong likely to pick up a few more wins as visiting teams often find fielding full-strength teams a problem on Friday nights due to work and travel.
ILLAWARRA MEN’S HOCKEY
ROUND 1
FRIDAY
• Wests v Fairy Meadow at Illawarra Credit Union fields, 8 pm.
SUNDAY
• Albion Park v Dapto at Croom Road fields, 3pm.
• Robertson v Mittagong at Welby Field, TBA (cricket finals).
• BYE: University.