Illawarra are looking for a first win entering their third season of the Sydney T20 comp, which includes all the Sydney grade clubs, plus top regional associations Illawarra, Newcastle, Central Coast and ACT.

Illawarra have a new coach in University mentor Tim Carter and will have a new skipper with Keira’s Jono Cook not playing in the Illawarra comp this season. 

 In an early start to the competition Illawarra are away to St George at Hurstville Oval on Sunday September 27 and then away to Newcastle on Sunday October 11. 

Illawarra host Uni of NSW (10am) and Sutherland (2.30pm) in their final pool games on Sunday October 18 at North Dalton Park.

  Illawarra are in the Sydney Sixers Conference with their semi-finals on October 25, before the final the following week at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

 The conference winner then takes on the winner of the Sydney Thunder conference to decide the T20 champion.

Illawarra have played well in parts of most matches in their first two years of the T20 Cup but have been punished for lapses with a step up in class facing the Sydney grade sides.

Carter expects to name his final squad in the week leading up to the St George game, after two trials against Sydney club Western Suburbs in Sydney on September 13 and another two trials against ACT in Nowra on September 20.

  Carter says cracking it for a first win is a priority.

  ‘‘Given the calibre of players we have here we want to be  winning and to lift our profile we need to be successful,’’ Carter said.

  ‘‘We have trial games coming up and we’ll be well prepared for the (St George) game.

‘‘Our aim is definitely to win and we’ll have a pretty exciting squad that the region can get behind.’’

The Illawarra competition begins with a one-day round on Saturday October 3.

 Premiers Balgownie are away to last season’s minor premiers Helensburgh in round one, University host Port Kembla, Corrimal are at home to Dapto, Keira host Wollongong and Northern Districts host Wests Illawarra.

The South Coast competition begins October 10.

 Illawarra and South Coast will also be part of a new country knockout T20 competition, the Regional Bash, which begins in October.

 Illawarra will assume the moniker of the Flames and take on Central Coast Rush at North Dalton Park on November 1 in their knockout clash.

 South Coast Crew are in the other conference and away to ACT Aces in their first round match on November 1.