Krautz will line up under lights at Beres Ellwood Oval on Friday as Reddies and Tumut both look for their first win of the season.

After returning from New Zealand, Krautz was keen to get back into Southern Inland.

With Albury not playing first grade this season, CSU coach Paul Hood was thrilled to pick up the influential forward.

"He's returned from New Zealand and said he was in the region and looking to play again," Hood said.

"I've been messaging him and was so excited when I saw his name come through on the registrations."

Krautz, who won premierships with the Steamers in 2013 and 2015, including being named their best in the 2013 decider, made a big impact for the club after returning to the club last season.

He comes straight into the starting side to take on Tumut.

Hood believes he will be a great influence on the new-look team.

"He is a senior player, who has been in the region for a long time," he said.

"I think he will have a great impact."

CSU are coming off a 47-15 loss to start the season.

Hood admitted his initial reaction was disappointment but after watching the replay he is confident there were plenty of positives.

One main focus has been on their set piece this week with Reddies struggling to win their own ball at both scrums and line outs.

It made things very difficult against the Boiled Lollies.

"We missed a few key areas and our line out and scrum wasn't great," Hood said.

"It effectively made us defend for long periods of time and not getting your own set piece ball makes it a lot more difficult.

"We ball we did get we used fairly well but we just didn't get enough of it."

Tumut comes into the clash after a 12-3 loss to Waratahs.

Hood expects the Bulls will provide another big challenge.

"Both our games last year were close but it's obviously different teams now," he said. "They've got some big ins and we've changed our squad a fair bit.

"We both lost last week but they pushed the reigning premiers, who look different on paper as well, so I think it is going to be a great match up."

The game is at 7pm.

Meanwhile Albury have forfeited their second grade and women's games to Wagga City this weekend.

In the first week of both competitions, the Steamers elected to approach the season week by week rather than pulling the pin immediately.

"We don't want the Steamers to fly in the face of the everyone else in the community (by travelling to play)," Raynes said. "We've decided to forfeit this weekend and deal with next weekend, which is a home game, as that approaches.

"We feel we owe it to the playing group to hang onto the season as best we can because they've been training really hard and abiding by our COVID safe plan."

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