The Albury-Wodonga Spitfires won't play for the first six weeks of the Capital League season.
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Changes due to COVID-19 with state boundaries and travel "bubbles" has caused a setback in the Spitfires' plans to face ANU in the season opener on Saturday.
Complications include Victorian-based players needing permits to cross the NSW border, as well as the squad requiring access to enter ACT.
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However, Hockey ACT has made a compromise, allowing the Spitfires to come back into the competition after the proposed six-week Melbourne lockdown, which led to the closure of the NSW border, playing some games for double points.
"The squad has had up to 20 committed members to training since the end of 2019, including some junior Spitfires, who if given the opportunity to play will seize it," Hockey Albury-Wodonga sport operations manager Cayte Campbell said.
"The team remains committed to play and are prepared to continue training for the next six weeks to see what developments unfold in relation to sport, travel and COVID-19 protocols.
"Hopefully the hard lock down and controlled borders that are currently being implemented in the community will result in an effective turnaround at the end of the six weeks and enable the Spitfires to put their hard work into a game."
Campbell added further players from the region are prepared to step in to fill the void if required.