Adelaide Strikers and Weston Creek Molonglo batsman Jono Dean believes Eastlake's Michael Spaseski can crack the Big Bash League.
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It comes as Cricket ACT Director of High Performance and Sydney Thunder championship winner Aiden Blizzard announced ex-first class player John Rogers as the new ACT Comets captain.
Spaseski sits fourth on ACT first grade's all-time Twenty20 leading run scorers list, with Dean the only man to have cracked four figures.
The pair will square off in round one of the Regional Twenty20 Cup, with the condensed format seeing each club play three games over the weekend.
"Spags could definitely take that next step," Dean said.
"He's a hard, strong hitter and he's reasonably smart as well. It's just about getting your opportunity at the right time and perform well in Futures League."
Weston Creek Molonglo youngster Mac Wright is one that took his shot, picking up a rookie contract with Tasmania after a stellar 2015/16 season heralded a Comets debut and a Sydney Thunder rookie deal.
Wright is available for the opening stages of the season before heading to Tasmania, joined by this season's Thunder regional rookie in quick bowler Joe Slater in Weston Creek Molonglo's ranks.
Dean, who joined the Strikers three seasons ago, believes Slater can follow in Wright's footsteps.
"Just being involved and being around that sort of set-up, it does wonders," Dean said.
"Joe just needs to go and soak it up and have fun and bowl fast in the nets if he gets the chance. You never know what happens."
Weston Creek Molonglo have "unfinished business" after falling to Queanbeyan in a final-ball thriller in last season's Twenty20 final.
Dean said a grand final rematch looms as a chance to make a statement against the Bluebags on Sunday morning.
"It's a game that I half-missed last year in the GF," Dean said, after he broke his finger in the field and was unable to take his place in the batting lineup.
"I had to duck off to the hospital, so especially for myself it'll be nice to get out there and be a part of that but all the boys are stinging to get out there and reverse that result from the GF last year."
Blizzard said opportunity is all Canberra players need with a number of Comets, including Rogers' younger brother Tom, in the Sydney Thunder academy frame.
The opportunity to lead his brother for the Comets was a big factor in Rogers' decision to take on the captaincy, but he hopes the partnership doesn't last too long.
"I'd like to see him move on to bigger and better things but playing a few games with the little brother is definitely a big incentive," Rogers said.
While Weston Creek Molonglo will boast the likes of Dean, Rogers, Wright and Slater over the weekend, they will be without Jono's brother Blake.
Blake Dean will play second grade to experiment with his game – he could be batting left-handed rather than right as he traditionally does.
REGIONAL TWENTY20 CUP
Saturday: Round One - ANU v Ginninderra at ANU North Oval, North Canberra-Gungahlin v Wests-UC at Harrison No 2 Oval, Tuggeranong Valley v Queanbeyan at Chisholm No 1 Oval, Eastlake v Weston Creek Molonglo at Kingston Oval. All games at 10am.
Saturday: Round Two - Wests-UC v ANU at Jamison Oval, North Canberra-Gungahlin v Ginninderra at Harrison No 2 Oval, Weston Creek Molonglo v Tuggeranong Valley at Stirling Oval, Eastlake v Queanbeyan at Kingston Oval. All games at 2:30pm.
