Jye Paterson is swapping the Gilbert for the willow as he chases more premiership glory.
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Fresh from savouring Central North premiership success with Pirates, Paterson will lead Bective-East in their quest for the Tamworth first grade silverware.
After stepping up to the captaincy last season following Adam Jones' retirement, Paterson goes into this season feeling a lot more comfortable in the role.
Last season was a good learning curve, the big lesson the 20-year took out of it to "be confident and back your plans".
Jones is back on board this season, which is a big in for Paterson as a sounding board, and also for the Bulls with Jones one of the premier batsmen in the competition.
Matt Zell has also come over from North Tamworth as a manager for the club. .
"He'll be a big bonus for first grade and the club as a whole," Paterson said, adding that he will also strap on the pads if needed.
Offsetting that Gerhard Labuschagne is leaving town and AJ Pretorius is up in Brisbane.
"He'll (Pretorius) be a big loss in batting and fielding," he said.
Paterson is like most of his counterparts of the opinion that with the dry conditions spin will play a big part and expects it to be a tough season for the bowlers.
"You've got to really bowl to your plan and to your field," he said.
With the quick outfields he anticipates it is going to be a batters year. It's a matter of just being patient.
Nick Hird will spearhead the attack. He missed the latter part of last season with injury. He'll be supported by Kurt Barton and Ash Turner, who is back this season and has "been bowling pretty well at training".
"Then there's a few part timers like myself, Jonesie and Lachie Barton," Paterson said.
Last season was a disappointing one for the Bulls, finishing bottom of the table.
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The key to be pushing for the finals this season, Paterson said, is consistency.
"We had games where we put it to everyone and the next week we'd be a totally different side," he said.
"We've definitely got the side to do it and the talent to do it in our side."
The start of the season comes almost a month to the day that Paterson help Pirates defeat Walcha to claim a fourth straight premiership.
It was his first taste of senior title success with the club, and was as he put it post match "just crazy".
"To win like that's bloody amazing really, to get over there (line) in the last five minutes," he said.
He had thought he would be lining up in the second grade grand final until five-eighth Sam Collins did his achilles in the preliminary final the previous week.
There probably isn't any tougher position to come into a side in than 10, but Paterson seemed unfazed, although he did admit afterwards it was a bit daunting.
"When you got out there and you look at the crowd, especially when you're parked down their end and they're all barking at you, it's a bit daunting then. But it's all good, there's plenty of old heads to help you around," he said.
The hardest 80 minutes of football he has played, he said his approach going in was to underplay his role.
"I just tried to go out and do my job, just lead the backs around a little bit," he said
Stepping up from the juniors last season, it was a bit of a breakout season for Paterson and saw him named second grade players' player when the club held their presentation night.
He wasn't there but said it was "nice to hear".
"It was a good season there, I really enjoyed it," he said.
He's hoping the cricket season will prove just as enjoyable, and successful.
