Defending champions Mudgee Dragons will start its knockout campaign against a St Pat's that has been busy recruiting in the off-season.

Mudgee won last year's title with an 18-10 win over Orange Hawks in the final, what was then the first serious hitout for new coach Jack Littlejohn.

St Pat's - who were defeated in the semi-finals last year - have recruited heavily, including the services of three former Oberon players in Abel Lefaoseu, Jackson Brien and Blake Fitzpatrick, while adding former Western Suburbs Rosellas player and 2014 Group 10 premiership player Luke Single to their stocks.

The winner of the Mudgee-St Pat's match will face the winner of the Orange Hawks and Cowra Magpies.

Hawks will still be hurting after the exit from the 2019 Group 10 finals after winning the minor premiership, after they've brought in the likes of Wayne Parker from Cootamundra and Tom Romer from St Marys to strengthen their squad.

Cowra had suffered a frustrating off-season so far, after former St George Illawarra and Canterbury player Craig Garvey had originally signed for the club before departing after he received "a better offer" from a Newcastle Rugby League club.

Two-time reigning Group 10 champions Bathurst Panthers have drawn the Daniel Mortimer-led Orange CYMS, with both determined to rebound after missing out on the knockout final last year.

The winner of the Panthers-CYMS match will face the winner of Lithgow Workies and Blayney Bears.

The knockout will get underway on Friday, March 14, and will conclude on Saturday, March 15.