THE Monaro Panthers have been drawn in a nightmare group for the club's ACT Premier League pre-season Cup campaign starting this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Panthers will kick off the tournament against perennial heavyweights Canberra FC at the Hawker Football Centre on Saturday.
Monaro has also been drawn to face last year's Premier League champions Canberra Olympic and Federation Cup finalists the Cooma Tigers in what is shaping as the proverbial 'group of death'.
Panthers skipper Tom Crossley however, has shrugged off concerns that the side could be in for a rough few weeks between now and the start of the Premier League season proper.
"There's no expectation ... in pre-season," Crossley said.
"You just go in and you see where you're at and how you measure up against the other teams."
Meanwhile, State League side Queanbeyan City FC is also preparing for its first pre-season fixture this weekend.