A host of the Border's best hockey players will return to the pitch on Saturday for the start of a newly-formed competition.
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With COVID-19 restrictions bringing an end to the Hockey Albury-Wodonga season last month, players were still craving their winter sporting fix.
An expression of interest was put out by the association later in July and was met with a significant response.
Hockey Albury-Wodonga invited all those keen to participate for a come and try session at Albury Hockey Centre and this week formed graded teams for a premier men's and women's tournament.
However, given the strict COVID-19 measures in place in Victoria, players living south of the border cannot be involved.
Hockey Albury-Wodonga sport operations manager Cayte Campbell said there will be four teams contesting both the men's and women's competitions.
At least four sides will line up to play social mixed matches, while two junior grades have also been established, split into under-16s and under-13s.
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"It's looking really positive," Campbell said.
"This weekend we're having some scheduled matches to get players to come along and meet their teams, get uniforms sorted and get a feel for what's going on.
"Even this weekend, the premier men's and women's games will be quite competitive, particularly the men's.
"There's at least one, possibly two (Albury-Wodonga) Spitfires players in most teams, which is really good to see.
"The point of the competition is to have close games."
David Foster was preparing to lead Corowa-Rutherglen United's division one men's team into another campaign this year, but is thrilled there's now something to look forward to.
"It was running and then it wasn't running, so I think everyone is now is happy to be doing something rather than sitting at home," Foster said.
"I've been helping put together the premier men's sides and it will actually be a pretty decent comp.
"The majority of players in each team are either Spitfires, division one or the better division two players, so it should be quite strong."
Foster thinks the competition will also have benefits from a club standpoint across Hockey Albury-Wodonga.
"Taking a whole year off and playing no hockey makes it extra hard coming back, so at least if we can have this mini comp it will tie in when sport can hopefully resume next year," he said.
"It's just a bit of a shame for the Victorian players."
Matches will be played every Saturday with an end date to be confirmed.