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Brisbane manager David Nilsson says the Bandits are fresh and firing ahead of getting their Australian Baseball League campaign underway with eight games in seven days at Viticon Stadium from Tuesday.

The Bandits narrowly missed the playoffs last season as they chased a fifth-straight ABL title and will be aiming to bounce back into the postseason.

Returning Perth manager Andy Kyle has backed his local arms to play key roles early as the Heat’s imports settle into the Australian Baseball League following their quarantine period.

He also flagged the chance for some of Western Australia’s young pitchers to get a chance at ABL level with expander rosters, Mitch Neunborn Adelaide-bound and Perth also set to enter the new season without Philadelphia prospect Josh Hendrickson and reliable reliever Josh Rawlinson.

Canberra will start its Australian Baseball League campaign shorthanded but manager Keith Ward says he is confident the Cavalry can still collect their fair share of wins against Perth.

The Cavs will be without slugger Zach Wilson, infield recruit Mikey Reynolds, MLB-experienced starter Shawn Morimando and Toronto prospects Samad Taylor and Chavez Young when they take on the Heat.

Sydney field manager Shane Barclay is upbeat about his team’s chances entering the new Australian Baseball League season after a testing 2019/20 campaign.

The Blue Sox started 9-6 a season ago before going on to lose 17 of their next 22 – and along the way key pair Alex Maestri and Gift Ngoepe to injury – as they were unable to make a second-straight playoffs.

New Melbourne manager Allan de San Miguel is confident the Aces have put together a roster capable of defending their Australian Baseball League title this summer.

Melbourne lost a stack of experience following last season’s Claxton Shield success with de San Miguel, former big leaguers Luke Hughes and Peter Moylan, along with veteran pitcher Dushan Ruzic all retiring.