The pain of semi-final heartbreak will drive Tuggeranong to chase its first two-day title in nine years and skipper Michael Wescombe is confident his side has the right mix to steal the trophy from Queanbeyan.
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However, while most clubs have tagged Tuggeranong as the competition favourite, Wescombe is bracing for one of the most even seasons in recent history.
Queanbeyan is the defending champion in all three formats - Twenty20, one-day and two-day competitions. But the departure of eight first-graders has blown the race for premierships wide open.
While the Bluebags were scrambling as players retired, departed interstate or joined opposition clubs, Tuggeranong has recruited stars to bolster their young line-up.
It finished at the top of the ladder last season, but failed to make the grand final after being knocked out of the title race by Wests-UC.
This season they've added Chris Prescott and Chris Chellew from Western Australia and Ian Leech from England.
''We had a young group last year and in some ways we over achieved,'' Wescombe said.
''But we also under-achieved, we were in winning positions and we couldn't quite get over the line in some close ones.
''We did well with a young group … we've got a good mixture at the moment so we're pretty excited about the season ahead.''
Queanbeyan has lost some of its biggest names. Mark Higgs has retired and will be the ACT Comets coach, Dean Solway has moved to South Australia and Michael Spaseski has joined Eastlake.
Tuggeranong also benefited from the departures, securing all-rounder Blake Dean, meaning he will take on his brother, Comets captain Jono, for the first time in the Cricket ACT competition.
Jono Dean admits Queanbeyan will have to rebuild after dominating all three formats for so long, but he's confident it can still be a title contender. He's also keen to win family bragging rights.
''It's going to be fun [playing against Blake], I've already told him to come on and bowl the first over,'' Jono Dean said.
''I reckon I've got the wood on him, I don't think he'll be able to help himself if I come on to bowl.
''It's a great opportunity to play against Blake, he's younger than me and it's only been the past two years that we've been able to play with each other.
''It will be a bit of a laugh … he's a bowling all-rounder and I don't bowl, so I know if I come on with the ball and get him out it will cut him up.
''We've lost a lot of players, but this is a good chance for guys to take their opportunities and I think we can put on a good show.''
