Veterans such as Chris Dyson, Mick Martin and Robert Chandler, who have held the side together, are missing,  Tamworth manager Craig Lee said.

“We’ve got nine rookies,” Lee said this week.

“All the old boys have retired. 

“Mick Martin, Chris Dyson are gone and Chan (Chandler)  is helping out more on the administration side,” he said of   the TBA Inc president.

“So we’ve got a pretty young side, plus three of the Taiwanese boys here in Tamworth playing for Gunnedah Giants. 

“And we  have some of the Armidale Outlaws players as well.”

Mick Alldis spearheads the Outlaw contingent in the Tamworth side, with the likes of Cameron Beat, Josh Shaw, Brad Smith, Jeremy Bird and Aiden Lee all part of the new- look  side.

While it is a new side, it will be strong,  Lee said.

“It’s going to be interesting,” he said.

The Tamworth side will also be playing Newcastle and the Country All Stars for the Country Championship as part of the weekend

And that extra interest will be aided by a special first game of the six-team A Division at the carnival when Tamworth plays the promoted JC Legends.

The JC Legends are a tribute side to the memory of the late John Carter, Tamworth’s Mr Baseball.

Formed in 2013 after his death, the side has risen through the ranks from D Division and will have three teams in this weekend’s Carnival, including a debut in the A Division.

“It’s a huge thrill for me,”  Lee said.

“JC was a mentor to me,” he said.

“It’s going to be great playing the boys (JC Legends) on JC’s field (Field of Dreams 1) in the first game.

“It’s also going to be a tribute to Gino as well,” he said of the recent passing of well- known baseballing umpire Greg “Gino” Miller.

“It’s going to be great to have this happening on JC’s field for him and Gino.

“And playing for the Country Championship as well against Newcastle and the Country All Stars from the B Division Country Championships also adds a lot to the weekend as well.”