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The first of the Illawarra clubs will begin their journey to FFA Cup glory when the Waratah Cup competition kicks-off on Saturday.
Cringila Lions, Dapto Dandaloo Fury and Wollongong United are all in action in the opening round with only United getting home-ground advantage.
They'll host the Glebe Gorillas at Macedonia Park and new coach Oliver Vrtkovski admits he isn't certain what to expect when the Sydney club comes to town.
"To be honest, I don't know too much about them and we are going in blind," Vrtkovski said.
"We are still focusing on our squad and that is my main priority: that our squad is right."
United have welcomed former South Coast Wolves players Johnny Martinoski and Jack Madgwick for 2014, along with defender Brendan Reilly from APIA Leichardt Tigers.
The team made it through to the quarter-final stages of last year's Waratah Cup competition under Paul Carter's tutelage - and are now in the running for a spot in the FFA Cup main draw.
"I suppose it is really kicking off our season. In the Waratah Cup we have high expectations of doing well, considering our performance last season," Vrtkovski said.
"It is one of the goals we have set, to reach the quarter-finals, if not take it further.
"We were quite unlucky last year in the quarter-final not to get a better result so I will be looking for an even better result this year because I think we have got a stronger squad."
National Premier League NSW side South Coast Wolves won't enter until the fourth round.