The signing of the former NSW Country paceman has flown under the radar, particularly with the influx of overseas players.

“We possibly had options with overseas players, but I wouldn’t swap him for anyone,” Mackinlay said.

“He’s a real pro, who respects the game and understands it.

“He’ll make every player in our side a better player.”

Davies spent nine years at Wagga outfit Lake Albert, but he also played for the Canberra Comets in 2009, alongside Nathan Lyon and rising paceman Jason Behrendorff.

“I played in the Cricket Australia Cup (now Futures League), which is the Second XI’s for the state teams,” he said. 

“I bowled first change, and we also had Mark Higgs as captain, as well as Jono Dean, who plays for the Adelaide Strikers.” 

The 32-year-old isn’t an express bowler, relying more on line and length.

“I’m loving it at Lavington, it’s a great club,” Davies said.

“Robbie Mackinlay was my coach with the Riverina team, and was looking for a bit more experience as we’ve got a few young quicks.”

Nathan Brown is one of the association’s best young players and Mackinlay can see the comparisons with Davies.

“He’s a young Brett Davies in that he can open the bowling and bat anywhere in the middle order,” he said.

“Brett will help the young players relax, he knows his game, and he knows the game backwards.”

He impressed in the opening T20 round and will carry even greater responsibility in the first of seven one-day matches, against Albury, on Saturday.

“They should be the big improvers,” Mackinlay said.

“As Kade Brown said they’d be disappointed if they didn’t make finals.

“We kept them outside the finals last season, so they would see us as one of the teams they have to get over.”

Both teams split their opening weekend matches.

Lavington fell to St Patrick’s in the season-opener, before toppling New City.

Nathan Thompson’s unbeaten 73 proved too much for Albury, but it responded against East Albury.

Brown posted a half-century against Tallangatta, while Nick Morris also started well, top-scoring against the Crows with 40, and snaring 26 against the Bushies.

Elsewhere, North Albury and Tallangatta remain the only unbeaten teams.

The Bushies are home to St Patrick’s, while North is away to East Albury.

North medium-pacer Tom Simmons is coming off a rare five-wicket haul at T20 level against the Patties.

Belvoir is home to Raiders, while Wodonga hosts New City.

All matches start at midday.