The 108th year of the Sydney grade competition gets under way tomorrow Saturday with games in all five grades. The twenty-team competition will continue right through the summer, with the finals set down for the last weekend of March.

All first grade fixtures will be held over two days, concluding next Saturday October 14.

Defending first grade premiers Bankstown-Canterbury get their title defence under way tomorrow at home against Hawkesbury. The home of the Waugh twins - both of whom are yet again expected to be unavailable throughout the season due to representative committments - Bankstown will be led this year by David Freedman, who announced his retirement from state cricket during the off-season. A strong Bankstown lineup also includes current Blues squad members Corey Richards and Matthew Betsey, along with the evergreen Ken Hall.

Last year's runners-up, St George, begin the season at home to Parramatta at Hurstville Oval. Brad McNamara has retired, but the Dragons are bolstered with the arrival of Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill from North Sydney. MacGill is unavailable this weekend due to his wedding, and his appearances for the club can be expected to be limited as the season progresses. Current Blues, Brett van Deinsen and Graeme Rummans are in the St George team led by Paul Ryan, along with former Blues all-rounder Scott Thompson.

Eastern Suburbs, led by former Blues paceman and now guest ACT player Anthony Stuart, are at home to a Sydney University team which contains a number of up-and-coming prospects. Former Western Australian slow bowler Jamie Stewart captains Sydney University in his second season on the east coast. Promising wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Stanton has joined the University side from Penrith for 2000-01, while Australian Under-19 international batsman Ed Cowan takes his place in the lineup.

Veteran ex-Blue Phil Marks continues to lead the North Sydney side this season. They open the season by travelling to Warwick Farm to face Fairfield-Liverpool. Among notable players to have left Norths since last season are Stuart MacGill, Scott Hookey and Trent Johnston.

Gordon, who finished in twentieth position on the first grade ladder last season, are at home to Campbelltown-Camden in their first round clash at Chatswood Oval. Neither side contains any players in the current Blues lineup.

Northern District open their season at Waitara Oval against Randwick. Mark Higgs is missing from the Northern District's first round lineup after his surprise selection for the Australian one-day team in Kenya. Brad Haddin is also missing for Northern District through injury. Former Blues batsman Richard Chee Quee is the best-known player for Randwick this season.

Sutherland are at home to Balmain in the first round at Caringbah Oval. Though unlikely to have their services of Glenn McGrath for yet another season, Sutherland do have two other players in the current Blues squad who will be in action this weekend: batsman Phil Jaques and new ball bowler Stuart Clark. Balmain, who reached the final six last year, are led by former Blue Neil Maxwell, and will, until the Pura Cup season begins at least, also have Gavin Robertson, Nathan Bracken and Greg Mail in action.

Michael Slater is the only Blues player in action for the University of New South Wales as they play at home to Manly at the Village Green in round one. Manly are captained by former NSW wicketkeeper Craig Glassock and have current Blues players Shawn Bradstreet, Matthew Phelps and Jamie Heath in their lineup. One name missing, and likely to remain so for most of the grade competition, is Michael Bevan, who will be in action for Australia against India in Nairobi tomorrow.

In other first round matches: Petersham-Marrickville host Penrith at Petersham Oval, and Western Suburbs play a Mosman side lacking in Lee brothers at Pratten Park.

On Sunday the first round of the first grade Limited-Overs competition gets under way. The draw (home team first):

• Balmain v Sydney University
• Bankstown v Western Suburbs
• Gordon v Mosman
• Hawkesbury v North Sydney
• Northern District v Fairfield
• Parramatta v University of NSW
• Penrith v Eastern Suburbs
• Petersham v Campbelltown
• Randwick v Manly
• St George v Sutherland

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