The 23-year-old will lead the club after being appointed as its skipper for the 2018-19 Grassmere Cricket Association season.

Umbers, who enters his seventh season with the club, said Yambuk would not just be making up the numbers.

"We want to be competitive and always in the contest and always up for the fight," he said.

"Our aim is to obviously make finals and we believe we will be there abouts.

“But at same time there is a lot of work to be done and I think the competition will be very even this season.

“We have had a couple of down years and a bit of a younger side the past few seasons, but we aren’t going to be easy beats this season.”

Umbers, a medium-pace opening bowler who took 17 wickets last season, said he had been interested in captaining Yambuk for sometime but felt the time was now right.

"I guess it has been on my mind for a while,” he said.

“I am looking forward to the challenge and to see what comes about.

"I am not the biggest talker out there, so it will be my on-field leadership and just leading from the front in the bowling aspect and fielding."

Yambuk’s chances of playing finals have received a strong boost with the addition of four quality recruits.

The club has confirmed Christo Rook (Portland), Xavier McCartney (Port Fairy), Corey McKenzie (Wangoom) and Ben Graesser (Terang) have all signed.

The only confirmed loss at this stage is Stephen Watty who has joined Port Fairy.

"We have recruited pretty well and good buzz around the club,” Umbers said.

"We think we have strengthened our batting line up and all round we will improve as well.

"We have brought in experienced guys now hopefully that will even out with the younger guys.”

Umbers and Yambuk will face their first big test on Saturday when they take on Panmure in the opening round of the season.

Last year’s semi-finalist will be a tough task for Yambuk but its new recruits could prove the difference.

Reigning premier Hawkesdale plays host to Purnim in what promises to be a solid contest.

Hawkesdale will be eager to start its premiership defence with a round-one victory.

Killarney and Wangoom go head-to-head at the Killarney Recreation Reserve.

After playing off in last year’s grand final Killarney will start this clash as favourite against Wangoom.

Mailors Flat, who has recruited strongly in the off-season, meets with Grassmere to start its campaign.

Woolsthorpe will have to wait yet another week before taking the field as it has the bye first up.