After beating the resurgent Sydney Metro Blues in last year’s final, the Hawks travel to Perth for the opening ‘cluster’ round of games. 

They start the new campaign against last season’s wooden spooners Adelaide at Mandurah on Friday night.

They then face a Western Australian double on Saturday, against the Perth Wheelcats and Red Dust Heelers, then meeting the Queensland Spinning Bullets on Sunday morning.

“It’s going to be a real test to see how fit we are and how switched on we are and probably how mentally strong we are early in the season,” Roller Hawks coach Brendan Dowler said.

While the Wheelcats have been a dominant force in recent times, they missed out on the finals last y ear.

The Heelers have have also been boosted by signing American import and three-time Paralympian Josh Turek.

“Everyone’s going to be tough, not many teams have changed, they’re all got the same (line-ups) and everyone’s going to give us a run for our money,” Pople said.

The Hawks lost two games on their way to securing the crown, their fourth in National Wheelchair Basketball League history.

However, the Roller Hawks look an even more dangerous prospect this season after Shawn Russell joined them from the Kilsyth Cobras. Michael Auprince returns as an improsing inside presence, while finals MVP Brett Stibners will continue to pose a threat.