Northern Pirates begin the defence of their Illawarra baseball premiership with Saturday's away clash against Wests Cardinals at Cringila Park

Pirates had the round-one bye following the late withdrawal of Kiama Braves from first grade, leaving just five teams in this season's competition.

Pirates player-coach Andrew Clifford believes his side are stronger than the team which claimed their first top-grade premiership since 1997, after wins over Cardinals and Dapto Chiefs in last season's finals.

Pirates have a couple of handy recruits with Liam Blackbourn returning after missing last season and American Bob Tweed jnr, who played summer ball for Sydney Major League side Macarthur.

Meanwhile, Cardinals are coming off an 11-7 loss to Chiefs in round one, but were without player-coach Josh Dean and his Sydney Blue Sox ABL teammate, Trent D'Antonio.

Cards and Pirates will need time to find their best form with the early part of the season disrupted with no play over the Easter or Anzac Day weekends, plus a general bye over the June long weekend, and all first grade clubs having a bye every fifth week due to the Braves pulling out.

In Saturday's other game, opening-round winners Chiefs and Berkeley Eagles meet at Hector Harvey Reserve.

The Eagles' Canberra Cavalry recruit, Aaron Sloan, starred in the 5-0 first-round win over Shoalhaven Mariners.

Sloan pitched five scoreless innings, plus had two hits leading to four RBIs.