Gordon were the big improvers of the 2019 Shute Shield season but fell agonisingly short of a finals berth after finishing with the wooden spoon just 12 months earlier.

The Stags have lost a handful of big names from last year's campaign but have a host of players ready to fill the void after impressing in grade and colts at the club last season.

Rugby News spoke to head coach DARREN COLEMAN as he readies himself for the season ahead.

WHAT LIES AHEAD:

“I’m pretty happy with how we’re looking ahead of round one. The boys did a great job staying in shape during the break and that allowed us to focus more on our field work rather than conditioning in recent weeks," Coleman said.

“It’s going to be another tight season. I certainly learnt from my mistakes last year when we weren’t aggressive enough chasing four-try bonus points. In the end, that’s what cost us our spot in the finals and I have to take the blame for that.