Originally scheduled for Bellevue Oval, the game will now be played at Alcatraz.

It will be a baptism of fire for the GhostStag’s with the students appearing to have replenished their stocks pretty well after the departure of some of their premiership winners.

Among the talented prospects is five-eighth Seb Field, and Albies co-coach Chris Kelly is excited about what he’ll offer after missing last season with a dislocated shoulder.

“He’s a good ball runner, good distributor and very solid in defence,” Kelly said.

Partnering him in the halves will be another debutant in Will Archer.

“He performed pretty well for us in the sevens and is a welcome addition,” Kelly said.

Skipper Alex Pay will provide a stabilising influence at the back. He was one of their best players last season, and showed some good form in the sevens.

Kelly said it is hard to replace the likes of Ollie Bartlett, Joe Druce and Charlie French, who were such a central part of their pack, but is “more than happy with the blokes coming in”.

After coaching the students alongside Tom Newsome for the last couple of season, Kelly has been joined on the sidelines by Ed Hiscox, who is a former Albies player.

In the other first grade fixture Armidale hosts Robb College.

The Blues will again be guided by Luke Stephen, and on the paddock will have the experienced head of captain James McKern to add some cool to what club president Anthony McMillan described as a very young side.

"We have four debutants this weekend," McMillan said. 

"It's exciting, but very inexperienced.”

Robb club president Adam "Gav" Saul is excited by his teams prospects for the opener.

"We're fit, looking pretty good and have four first years making their first grade debuts,” Saul said.

Happy with the look of his team so far, he is expecting centre Tom Bucknell and lock Jock Tonkin to provide the experience in what is also a young side.