Darren Jackson’s new-look squad is exclusively made up of under 23s players, following the Country Rugby League’s decision to shake-up representative footy for the 2017 season.

That transistion, however, is made easier for Western, with the likes of Parkes’ Sam Dwyer, Forbes’ Ben Maguire and Bathurst Panther Blake Lawson all earning Rams senior selection last season.

While a host of players – including Orange CYMS’ Ryan Griffin, Forbes’ Mitch Burke and Lithgow flier Keelan Bresac – featured in Western’s under 21s squad in 2016.

The group will get to work on Saturday morning at Jack Huxley Oval from 10.30am, with another run at the same venue on February 4.

The squad will then be cut to 34 players ahead of a trial clash with Newcastle Knights’ under 20s side on February 11 –  a team that includes Western products Lachie Farr and Mitch Andrews, from Blayney and Forbes respectively.

With the Country Championships kicking off at Cowra on May 13, the final Western Rams senior squad will be picked after the divisional trials at Dubbo on April 22.

RAMS UNDER 23s: Lewis Stanley (Wellington Cowboys), Braden Carney (Trangie Magpies), Sam Dwyer (Parkes Spacemen), Jordan Pope (Parkes Spacemen), Jedd Kennedy (Orange Hawks), Kyle Robbins (Orange Hawks), Ethan Mckellar (Orange Hawks), Max Wolfson (Orange Hawks), Cameron Jones (Orange CYMS), Jerome Harrison (Orange CYMS), Ryan Griffin (Orange CYMS), Jack Bastick (Orange CYMS), Jackson Brien (Oberon Tigers), Ryan Richardson (Narromine Jets), Nathan Orr (Mudgee Dragons), Camden Sutton (Mudgee Dragons), Zac Adams (Mudgee Dragons), Codie Lang (Manildra Rhinos), ​Mitch Case (Lithgow Workies​), Keelan Bresac (Lithgow Workies), Ben Maguire (Forbes Magpies), Hayden Bolam (Forbes Magpies), Nick Greenhalgh (Forbes Magpies), Mitch Burke (Forbes Magpies), Blaze Fuller (Dubbo Westside), Kiyan Shaw (Dubbo Macquarie), Phil Combridge (Dubbo Macquarie), Alex Bonham (Dubbo CYMS), Ben Marlin (Dubbo CYMS), Hamish Astill (Dubbo CYMS), Wade Kavanagh (Dubbo CYMS​), Khaleb Whitehurst (Cobar Roosters), Rick Nobes (Cowra Magpies), Adam Richards (Condobolin), Travis Brazier (Collarenebri), ​Raka Tuheke (​Blayney Bears), Deryne Mckenzie (Blayney Bears), Matt Ranse (Blackheath), Nick Millar (Bathurst St Pat’s), Hudson White (Bathurst St Pat's), Jack Mackey (Bathurst St Pat's), Mitch Squire (Bathurst St Pat’s), Blake Lawson (Bathurst Panthers), Jake Betts (Bathurst Panthers), Jarred Seager (Bathurst Panthers), Jed Betts (Bathurst Panthers), Nick Loader (Bathurst Panthers).