Gone are players who had become part of the furniture. No Corey Toole, Jamie Kotz, Tamati Ioane, Joey Caputo, Tom Haddad, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.

But there remains an air of excitement leading into their John I Dent Cup season opener - which doubles as coach Glenn Carey's first at the helm since taking over from Marco Caputo - against the Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park on Saturday.

"We've obviously turned over a few from last year but we've managed to replace like with like in a lot of positions," Carey said.

"We've got the two Tiumalu brothers [Jireh and Shammah] coming over from Wests to join us, a lock and a No. 8. We've also got a couple of guys from Melbourne who have come in, Jay Lualua and Mika Eli, a front-rower and a back-rower.

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"We've also filled within the club, a few of our lower graders have come up. We'll test our depth with some of those fringe first grade, second grade players getting an opportunity, plus some of our colts as well.

"We're just looking to build week to week. With a very young squad, they're just going to get better each time we train and each time we play. That's the way we're looking at it and hopefully come the back end of August, September, we're ready to play finals footy."

The Wests Lions will hit the road to Nepean Rugby Park to welcome the Penrith Emus to the ACT rugby scene after the club was handed a lifeline in the wake of a dramatic Shute Shield exit.

Penrith coach Ronnie Patea is adamant the Emus aren't here to make up the numbers. They are determined to shock the opposition.

Wests perhaps know little of their new opponents. Tuggeranong already got a glimpse when they gave the Emus a touch-up in a pre-season trial, but Vikings coach Nick Scrivener won't be resting on his laurels.

"Everyone can beat everyone, I always say that and it's true. That's been shown over the last few years," Scrivener said.

"The competition changes halfway through or two-thirds through because clubs get their Brumbies back. The competition will change dramatically. Up until then, depth is going to play a huge part for most clubs with injury and COVID.

"Up until then, it will be a real scrap for positions. The competition will change massively in the last third and then in the finals."

JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND ONE

Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park; Penrith Emus v Wests Lions at Nepean Rugby Park; Queanbeyan Whites v Canberra Royals at Campese Field. All games at 3.05pm. Uni-Norths Owls have the bye.

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