FACING a traditional rival on their home turf one week and a road trip to meet the defending premiers the next - Panorama FC has been dealt a tough start for the 2021 Western Premier League season.
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After making the semi-finals last season as the regional league was revived, Panorama is keen to once more stake a claim on being one of the best club football outfits in the Central West.
That bid begins this Saturday with a season-opener against 2020 semi-finalists Lithgow Workmen's in Lithgow. In round two it doesn't get any easier as Panorama plays away to defending champions Dubbo Bulls.
"After that we'll know where we are sitting. I think Lithgow have lost a couple so it will be interesting to see how they'll go, but they're always strong at home and we've struggled down there the last few years to come away with a win," Panorama president Beau Yates said.
"Obviously Dubbo Bulls at their home, that's going to be another tough one."
After being on the road for the opening fortnight, Panorama gets its first home game on April 24 against Orana Spurs.
The line-up will be very similar to that of 2020. While midfielder Mitch Cooper has moved away and central defender James Cox plus striker Jacob Soetens have opted to play in the Bathurst District Football men's premier league, Panorama has picked up Jade Hadfield and Ricky Guihot.
Hadfield will be an asset to Panorama's midfield while the vastly experienced Guihot, who coached last season, is someone Yates describes as a "massive in".
"It's not the biggest squad, we've got more quality over quantity I would say this season. We've got a tighter, smaller team that we hope can stick together and not pick up too many injuries along the way," Yates said.
"A few of the boys have gone back to first grade, but they'll help us out where they can ... if we can manage that we should have a fairly handy side."
Yates is of the opinion that 2020 grand finalists Bulls and Dubbo Macquarie will again be hard to beat and that Parkes shape as the 'dark horse'. But in general he thinks there will be no easy games.
He jokes that "sucks for my 33-year-old body" but he and his team-mates are excited about the challenges which lie ahead.
"I'd say Macquarie and Bulls will be super strong, Parkes I'm shaping as a bit of a dark horse, Waratahs will be good on their day, Mudgee are looking good - there's not going to be an easy game," he said.
"This year we're really keen to go again ... there's a heap of hype around the new comp and I think everyone has stepped it up.
"It's definitely going to be super hard to make the finals, so making the finals is the goal for us and if anything comes after that, awesome.
"We've just got to make sure we play really good at home I think and then if we can get some points at Orange and Lithgow and see what happens on those away games at Dubbo and Parkes."
Aside from Panorama's away match against Workies, the opening round will also feature a Waratahs versus Barnstoneworth United derby in Orange, a grand final replay between Bulls and Macquarie while Parkes hosts Mudgee Gulgong. Orana has the bye.
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