The league cricket season starts with a bang in the Forest as local rivals Lydney and Cinderford St Johns clash in the opening game.
Both teams play in the Gloucestershire division of the West of England Premier League and begin their season with an encounter at Lydney on Saturday.
Cinderford currently hold the bragging rights between the two, having beaten the Severnsiders twice last year and finishing above them in the table.
Lydney spokesman Andrew Davies said it was felt the club punched below its weight last season.
"We know we have the ability there but we were just not showing it last season," he said.
"We just feel we need to get more organised and get people to play to their ability".
As part of a new structure the club has appointed Bob Park as first team manager, to help reduce the off-field load on re-elected first team captain Ed Jones.
Left arm seam bowler Jones will again lead the attack, while among the players hoping for runs will be last year's leading scorer Jon Kear.
He has already shown some form this year with a half-century in a warm-up match at Redmarley.
No notable new players have been brought in this year but hopes are high that the very successful junior section will continue the conveyor belt of talent into the senior sides.
"Ten of our current team are products of the youth squad and we have some very good youngsters now, so this bodes well for the future", said Andrew.
Flooding problems which caused havoc at the Lydney club two years ago are now behind them and Andrew said the pitch was in superb condition.
Both club's second elevens are in league action at Cinderford on the same day while Lydney thirds kick off their KW Bell Forest of Dean League season with a visit to Newent III on Sunday.