THE Oberon Tigers are both a side on the improve and a side left virtually unscathed over summer.
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It's a recipe for perhaps another Group 10 finals appearance.
Oberon's biggest bonus in the lead-up to season 2014 has come in the coaching department.
Scott Traynor joins the club following an association with Bathurst Panthers spanning two decades, and has brought along Paul McDonald in the assistant coach's role.
This pairing shapes up as one of the most experienced in Group 10 and Traynor has expressed his excitement in having fresh faces to work with. There's a lot of positive energy going around.
The team scored some big results last year including an away win over Lithgow Workies in round four, before their elimination final win over Bathurst St Pat's.
Oberon consistently troubled struggling sides like Cowra, Blayney and Mudgee but lacked that something extra to give a challenge to frontrunners such as the two Orange teams.
Steve Lane, who joins the team from Panthers after spending much of the past two years for the Bathurst club in reserve grade, could be that something.
He had to be content to remain in Panthers' first division side after preference was given to younger players coming through the ranks, but now he gets a chance for more time in premier league.
He makes an interesting combination with Blake Fitzpatrick, acting as a mentor at the same time for the younger player.
The Panthers exodus doesn't end there as Katon Crawford joins the Oberon ranks.
Crawford is a man described by Traynor as having an "x-factor", and the forward was an integral part of the Panthers' reserve grade season and ultimately their grand final win. Time will tell to see if he fares well against a full season of premier league play.
With the biggest change of all for the club happening on the sidelines, the team has had plenty of time to get familiar with each other's game.
Having more certainty and experience in their final halves combination makes facing the Tigers now a tough prospect for many teams.