Brown, 30, played in Inverell’s side which finished third in 1998. Narrabri defeated Inverell on all three occasions that year (including the preliminary final) and has had the wood on the Highlanders ever since.

“It’s a pretty daunting start. They (Narrabri) are relentless, big and fast and they beat us 110-5 last year,” Brown said during the week.

“But we’ve got some good backs that we can hopefully use if we hold them in the forwards.”

Brown indicated a new look Inverell backline could make the most of any clean ball the forwards could win.

“Jeff Ting has come back (in the centres) and we’ve got a new bloke in Shaun Uebergang.

“He hasn’t played much rugby but he’s quick and went really well outside Matt Ellis in the trial game. And Brett Randall (winger) is coming back to play for us,” Brown said.

Exciting fullback James Dedassel is another player to impress Brown. He was also hopeful of seeing a couple of 1998 stars back on the field.

“They say Matt Flanagan and Jamie Petrie are going to have a game but I haven’t seen them at training yet,” Brown said.

“It will be good if they come back but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Flanagan is playing league for the Hawks but said recently he was considering playing both codes. He toured New Zealand with the Central North side back in 1997 and was a key figure in Inverell’s charge to the finals under coach Peter Malcolm in 1998. Petrie played fullback for the Highlanders in first grade throughout the 1998 season.

o In other Central North Rugby Union first round matches reigning premiers Moree host the Barraba Rams, Quirindi Lions travel to Walcha and Pirates host Tamworth Magpies in a big local derby at Ken Chillingworth Oval.