A Monday morning test sounds distressing but South West Cricket (SWC) division one colts players can't wait for one next week.
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The middle of school holidays means cricket rather than the classroom for the side contesting Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) Colts Country Week.
SWC division one coach Rob McLaughlin said Monday's opening match against Warrnambool Gold would be a challenge for his team.
He said the host association was the benchmark.
"One of their teams normally makes the final," he said.
"If you can knock a Warrnambool team off early in the week, you're going to be a pretty good chance."
South West finished runner-up to Warrnambool Blue in the 2010 competition.
About half of this year's SWC team will be representing the association again next week.
"Generally half is older kids and half is younger kids," McLaughlin said.
"The younger kids (from this year) have the chance to step up to the plate and be the senior players."
The coach believed his side boasted a strong bowling attack.
"I think we've got three left-armers, so there's a bit of variation," he said.
"Our batting and bowling is pretty even right through."
SWC also clashes with Horsham and Grassmere.
The team includes captain Tyson Osborne (Bookaar), vice-captains Joe Muir (Woorndoo) and Tommy Moloney (Terang), Ryan Simmonds, Zach Merrett (Cobden), Sylas Merrett, Eddie Lucas (Bookaar), Thomas Lenehan, Nathan Sargeant (Terang), Gus Bourke (Boorcan), Tyler Schafer (Mortlake), Chris Vogels (Princetown) and Lucas Rais-Colvin (Camperdown).
South West also has a division two team, which will be coached by Russell McCann.
It includes Mitchell McLaughlin (Camperdown), Aaron Lindsay, Nico Nieuwenhuizen (Princetown), Jesse Gaut (Bookaar), Jackson Bolch, Lewis Taylor (Woorndoo), Jake Carr, Angus Uwland, Josh Fagan, Brendan Cook (Cobden), Andrew Fay, Tom Thewlis (Caramut) and Jason Blackley (Pomborneit).
The South West side will take on Warrnambool, Casterton, West Wimmera and Wimmera-Mallee.
Mount Gambier has withdrawn from division two, meaning the competition will have a bye.
WDCA Colts Country Week starts next Monday, January 3 and will wind up next Friday.
