PORT Macquarie Sharks coach James Kelly has guaranteed every one of their trial fixtures will be genuine selection trials for round one of the Group 3 rugby league season.
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The Sharks will head to Erskineville Oval this Saturday where they will clash with Coogee despite the absence of up to eight regular first graders.
But Kelly said that shouldn't discourage any player from staking a claim to be included in the 17-man squad to tackle Forster-Tuncurry on May 2.
"We're hoping to get some match fitness and see how a few players jell," he said.
"A few of the boys are in the North Coast rep side so it's good to give the fringe blokes a crack, but pretty much every spot is up for grabs."
Off-season signings Cuban and Chris Piper will play their first games in Sharks colours.
"They've both really impressed in pre-season," Kelly said.
"Cuban will trial a bit at fullback and at five-eighth."
Former Armidale Rams fullback Fletcher Strong is also expected to be given time in the centres and at fullback.
"The main thing is that it's going to be a bit of a bonding session, but we've got a good mix of first and reserve graders available," Kelly said.
"This year we've got a lot of depth, so the match will help us with the makeup of the round one side."
The Sharks squad is: Cuban Piper, Jack Williams, Dylan Adams, Ollie Nosworthy, James Newell, Luke Sprague, Chris Green, Nic Andriessen, James Kelly, Tremayne Sanbrook, Harry Hanley, Hunter Clayworth, Chris Piper, Kieren Gallagher, Josh Pursche, Ray Shipway, Luke Ackroyd, Tyler Weatherly, Ben Read, Tyreek Brown, Luke Morrison, Fletcher Strong.
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