Forbes will begin its 2017 Group 11 premiership defence on home soil at Spooner Oval in round one of the looming season, a draw captain-coach Jake Grace is thrilled about.

The Magpies snapped a 29-year first grade title drought courtesy of last year’s remarkable, come-from-behind triumph over CYMS.

A feat, Grace says, wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the parochial support of the Maggies faithful – a fact he’s determined to repay come round one when the defending premiers take on Wellington at Forbes.

“You hear it all the time, but for us especially that home crowd and the support we get from the Magpies fans, it means everything,” Grace said, round one falling on April 30.

“It makes such a difference running out knowing you’ve got everyone’s backing. We wouldn’t play otherwise.”

“Not much has changed. We’ll rip in from the word go and see where that takes us.”

Competition wise, Grace is adamant there’s no greater hurdle than Dubbo CYMS, a club that very nearly wasn’t part of the Group 11 competition in 2017 having lobbied hard to jump to Group 10 this season.

Nyngan wasn’t easy in 2016, neither anyone of Parkes, Macquarie or Narromine.

“It’s good for the comp too,” Grace added.

“You travel anywhere in Group 11 and if you’re not on your game you’re not going to win.

“We’ve got a lot of belief, it’s now about finding that consistency. We know everyone is going to be waiting for us, CYMS especially, but we’ll be 100 per cent ready for it.”

In other opening round games, Westside takes on CYMS in the Dubbo derby, Macquarie hosts Nyngan and Parkes begins its campaign at Narromine.

The June long weekend clash between the Spacemen and the Magpies is on June 18.

The defending premiers have remained relatively quiet on the recruitment front ahead of the new season, with Grace to trial a throng of promising and returning junior products in the top grade when the Magpies begin the pre-season proper at the West Wyalong Knockout on February 24.