It is the first of two trials, the second to follow a week later against Hawkesbury’s first grade side.

Bathurst’s Josh Toole – who was a fixture in the Western team in their Championship push, hitting a half-century in their second round match against Southern – will feature in next weekend’s pre-season match.

But he won’t be on his own as far as local players go. 

In fact, he will have one of his clubmates alongside him.

Oxford Centennials opening bowler Aaron Seymour, who has been regarded as one of the best pace bowlers in Bathurst for a number of years, has been selected to make his Western Zone debut in the trial.

Though he has played representative cricket for Bathurst at opens and under 21s level, he only broke through into Mitchell representation last season – and, like most of his team-mates, he didn’t have a memorable time of it.

His side was bowled out for just 92 against Combined Valleys, and he was given just three overs – at fourth change – to show what he could do in a hopeless cause during Valleys’ run-chase.

Overall, he had a strong season in the Bathurst colours, managing seven wickets at 10.9 in the President’s Cup, including a five-wicket bag against Mudgee, and performing well, though without the same rewards, in the SCG Cup against Dubbo and Parkes.

Locally, he couldn’t have done much more to help his club side, taking 30 scalps at 12.7 and making 355 runs and 59.2. 

That followed a haul of 27 at 13.9 and 337 runs at 33.7 the season before.

“I think the difference has just come from applying myself a bit more and having a go,” he explained simply.

“My role will be to take the new ball. We’ve got a new opening combination with myself and [Cowra left-armer] Jacob McNaught.

“For me, with these two trials, it is all about doing what I have to so I can retain my spot for the Championships themselves. 

“It is good having ‘Tooley’ there. I only really know James O’Brien and Will Lindsay out of the other guys because they were in the Mitchell side last year.”

The laidback Seymour generally takes what could be described as a carefree approach to his cricket interspersed with the odd show of aggression – usually towards himself when something goes amiss.

But he says the two upcoming games will be the most serious of his career.

“These are the two biggest matches I’ve ever played, easily,” he said.

“I didn’t really get much of a go in the Mitchell game last season – three overs wasn’t much of a chance to show what I could do – so mostly this selection came off the back of what I’ve been doing in Bathurst.

“These are good cricketers I’m coming up against; it will be a massive test. We’ve had a training session last Sunday and did a bit of video work, which was something a bit different, just to look at areas I can improve on.”

WESTERN ZONE: Nick Berry (c), Tim Berry, Aaron Seymour, Josh Toole, Will Lindsay, Anthony Heraghty, Mitch Bower, Ryan Medley, Jordan Moran, Stuart Naden, James O’Brien, Jacob McNaught