Talented sportsman Mick Mattingly will return for his first appearance of the season, while the Blues will also blood 16-year-old leg spinner Ed Perryman.

The inclusion of Mattingly and Perryman will coincide with a day-night clash against ladder leaders Lake Albert.

“It’s a good concept for Wagga cricket,” South Wagga captain Joel Robinson said.

“It’s good for both clubs. Our second, third and fourth grades are all playing at Bolton Park so once they finish at five or six o’clock, both clubs have the opportunity to get all their players, sponsors and juniors together, which should be really good.

“We want to attract more than just the standard people that come along to watch. We want mates, relatives, different people, there.” 

South Wagga will be out to bounce back from their opening loss of the season last week against St Michaels.

Mattingly, Perryman, Mitch Sykes and Will Gardner will all come in for the clash with Grant Forrest, Jeremy Rowe, Seb Graf, Nathan Cooke and Jacson Sommerville all unavailable.

Robinson is excited for Perryman’s debut.

“He’s a club junior that has probably surprised a few people, just because of his size,” he said.

“He’s definitely got talent with the ball, and talent with the bat as well.

“He’s going to be a good option for us and he gives us something a little bit different to what we’ve got as well.

“He was very close the last two weeks to being picked but we just wanted to give him a few games in the twos. He gets his chance to impress in ones this week.”

Robinson also expects Mattingly to have an impact.

“Mick’s got that natural talent where he can just fit into cricket without having too much cricket under his belt,” he said.

“He’s home for uni holidays and will have a couple of hit-outs with us.”