The Border outfit's under-13s, 14s, 15s and 16s welcome Moreland City to La Trobe on Sunday and will look to kick-off their campaigns in style.

While it will be somewhat of a different feeling at the club this year without a senior program in place, technical director Adam Carty has been very impressed with the commitment and drive from their youth players.

"This year, our youth players will take centre stage," Carty said.

"It is disappointing to lose our senior teams this year as youth players do need somewhere to go and you want them to aspire to play at the highest possible senior level in the best competition they can.

"It's something needs fixing. However, on the up-side, our youth players are playing in the strongest competition the region can offer.

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"When you consider some of the clubs in the Victorian NPL competition, it is easily going to be the strongest competition the region has to offer.

"They're ready. I had a Canberra NPL side down on the weekend and played them all a grade up, so our 16s played their 18s, our 15s played their 16s and we performed well across all ages.

"Some of the comments on social media would have you believe there being no seniors this year has a ripple effect on the youth competition, but that's not the case.

"Our youth program is in a very strong position, probably the strongest it has ever been.

"Short term doesn't present a problem. The challenge comes in providing senior opportunities locally next year, which is what our players want."

Murray's demise at senior level came from a lack of committed players and coaches at under-18 and 20 level, which were required to field an open age team.

But Carty believes there's no reason it can't be turned around within 12 months.

"It's not as grim as some people might have you believe, especially when you have the benefits of all the facts," he said.

"I feel for the younger players for whom this year would have been their first time in a structured senior program, because they don't really have that same competition now.

"I think what's positive about the future is Football Australia recognises the problem we face nation over, retaining players in the 17-20 age group. Their support will hopefully transcend the regional politics you sometimes encounter when looking for innovative solutions.

"We must be doing something right because no sooner was the announcement made about our seniors and the phone starts ringing with Melbourne Victory keen to invite four players from under-18s and 20s to train with them this week."

Murray's four sides in the newly-structured junior NPL will play nine of their opening 11 games at La Trobe, with one trip to Shepparton in round eight and round 11 to be played at Wangaratta.

After the first 11 rounds, teams will be graded into different divisions to best reflect their competitiveness, meaning Murray will most likely have sides playing at different venues for the remainder of the season.

Carty's biggest question mark was the 33-match season, but he can't see any issues with the new format.

"In reality, having it graded isn't going to cause any headaches in terms of trying to be in two spots at once because it won't happen," he said.

"It does help in some respects because you only go down for the one game, you don't hang around all day.

"There's a lot of double-headers too so we'll go down and two rounds will be done on a weekend, so travel will actually be reduced.

"We could host different clubs in different grades, but it's only 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s. Previously we've had 12s, 18s, reserves and seniors, so it's a much shorter day."

The under-13s kick-off the day at 10am, followed by the 14s at 11.15am, 15s at 12.30pm and finishing with the 16s at 2pm.