Balgownie captain Jamie Fleming is confident his side's youngsters will thrive when they receive their first taste of the club's rivalry with Wollongong on Saturday.
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The two teams have played out a number of fiery encounters in recent years, with the Lighthouse Keepers prevailing by one run on two occasions last summer.
With the Cricket Illawarra season opening with the Twenty20 rounds, Balgownie have taken the opportunity to blood a number of emerging players.
So far they have acquitted themselves well, the Magpies winning their opening two matches, but Fleming knows his players are in for a big test against an unbeaten Wollongong side.
"It will be a different kettle of fish to what they've played so far," Fleming said. "We've been a bad Twenty20 team since it started, so it's been good to have two wins and to get these guys exposure to first grade cricket.
"Our youngsters are up for this week's game. They've got a lot of potential, we have an 18-year-old and two young twins bowling well. Hopefully they'll get better each week and we'll reap the benefits at the back-end of the season."
The feelings between the two sides are mutual, Wollongong captain Nathan Loveday crediting the rivalry for bringing the best out of his players.
He expects no different this weekend, and with batsman Tim Laws returning to the side, the skipper is confident his team will prevail should the rain hold off.
"They'll be ready to go," Loveday said. "It's always a fiery contest. That brings out the personalities and it's what good cricket is all about.
"It's a healthy competition, there's a semi-final intensity when we play. We don't want to give an inch to any team, but especially Bally.
"It's a test for us, we've had two good wins and hopefully we can keep that momentum. Winning the little periods will be where the game is won, the first six overs and the last four."
Balgownie will welcome back Graeme Batty for Saturday's clash, the representative batsman to play his first game since undergoing shoulder surgery last November.
With some talented youngsters coming through, Fleming is excited to see the club's veterans play a mentoring role throughout the season.
"Having Batty back will be massive," Fleming said. "It will be good for the younger players to learn from such a high-performing player.
"For our bowlers it's about getting that time in first grade and learning the tricks of the trade, we've got the experienced players who can help them.
"The youngsters are also helping the older guys, they've brought more energy to the squad. Hopefully we can maintain that winning feeling."
Saturday's other matches will see Corrimal host University and Port Kembla take on Northern Districts. Wests will make the trip north to play Helensburgh, while Dapto will face Keira.
The Butchers will also take on the Tigers at Rex Jackson Oval on Sunday in a make-up game from round one.