Central North Rugby: Pirates wrap up their preparations with good showing in three-way trial with Dubbo and Mudgee

Among the Kookaburras best, his opinion of the 22-year old has only been enhanced by what he has shown in the black and gold, firstly in the Armidale Knockout and again in their three-way trial with Dubbo and Mudgee on Saturday.

"He's really settled into the Pirates' way," Squires said.

"I can't put into words how excited I am about the season he's going to have."

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He likened the back/second rower to "a young Doug Biffin": a good ball runner, good in the set pieces and a good rugby brain.

Another of their new recruits Squires is really excited about is Jayden Kitchener-Waters. He played five-eighth on Saturday with Andrew Moodie unavailable and "did a really good job".

Waters has spent the last couple of years plying his trade with Randwick in the Sydney competition.

"I think they (Mack and Waters) were two guys we were missing last year," Squires said. "I think they'll add a lot to the squad."

Water's performance has given him and fellow coaches Biffin and Evan Kellow plenty to think about as they look towards Round 1 against Quirindi.

"We want to get Jayden and Andrew in the same team," Squires said.

"It gives you two quality ball players."

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He said they'll sit down and select a side later this week for the Lions.

"Evan and Doug will probably have a fairly strong idea about what the forward pack should look like," he said.

"Toby (Maslen) is out for a few weeks. That will change a couple of things."

As far as the backs, which is more Squires' domain, the Moodie-Waters puzzle isn't the only big quandary with Jackson Sharpe and Brad Male jostling for the nine jersey.

Like Waters, Male has come back from playing in Sydney.

Both will, he said, "play an important role" throughout the season.

Across the club he said the have got good depth at nine, which is something they probably haven't had for a little while.

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Now just under two weeks away from kick-off, Squires couldn't be much happier with how they are placed.

"As far as what we've done in pre-season and what we've shown in the couple of trials we've had I think we're in a really good spot," he said.

"I'm pretty excited about the footy we're going to play this year."

"There's a bit of a quiet confidence there."

They have done a lot of work through the pre-season on their defence and also their ability to progress the ball. That did show on Saturday, despite fielding "probably two thirds a second grade team", with a lot of first grade regulars tied up with cricket grand finals or isolating.

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