AS always, it seems the WDCA cricket season opener has come around faster than most realised with competition in A grade to begin this Saturday.

Home team Beechworth Wanderers face City Colts, a side tipped to be on the rise this year thanks to a few recruits and added maturity in their relatively young squad.

Wanderers skipper Brenton Surrey said the club was set for a busy season ahead with teams in all junior and senior grades as well as another year in girls cricket.

"We're shaping up okay, it's a matter of getting the players motivated for cricket after a fairly hectic footy season, but we should have a reasonable side again," Surrey said.

"We've picked up one new player, Jackson Gill, who comes from down in Melbourne who looks like a handy bat."

Surrey said with C grade competition starting a week later it gives clubs who generally might struggle to get all their players on the park for the first game some breathing room.

"We'll use some of the C graders in other grades to give us healthy numbers," he said.

"We don't play at home until round three either, which will give the ground time to settle down after the work on it post footy season."

New players are still welcome, and along with players from last season who have yet to register, are urged to visit the club's Facebook page to sign up.

More juniors are also needed for under 14s and under 16s.

Beechworth Wanderers A grade meet City Colts at Bill O’Callaghan Oval Saturday from 1pm to start the 2024/25 WDCA season.

In other A grade matches, Benalla Bushrangers host Ovens Valley United at the Gardens Oval, Yarrawonga Mulwala are at home to Rovers United Bruck, while the Magpies have the bye in round one.