The Lions junior spent the past four years playing football in New Zealand and has mixed emotions about being back in the Highlands.

On one hand he misses friends left back over the Tasman, but on the other, there’s a fresh new start with the club be loves.

“All the boys at Mittagong I have spoken to are pretty keen to get training and then start playing,” he said.

Mittagong training starts this Friday at 6pm.

New club president Dave Elliott has instructed all interested players to turn up with three things; running shoes, a positive attitude and a house brick.

“More will be revealed about the brick at training,” Elliott said.

“The club committee has been busy on the player recruitment front and is close to finalising deals with a number of forwards.”

After a lacklustre return to Group 6 first grade in 2009, Elliott’s bricks will symbolise the rebuilding of the club. The club that was a Group 6 powerhouse during his playing days.

Baines said he was trying to bolster the Lions’ playing stocks with a few of his Kiwi mates.

The 25-year old left Mittagong in 2005 and played rugby union in Auckland for three seasons. He switched back to league last year, playing for the Mount Wellington Warriors.

The hooker/halfback expects most of the players from 2009 to form the nucleus of the grade teams, while recruits would bolster depth.

“We are looking at getting some players out from New Zealand and getting some work for them over here,” he said.

“But we have to wait and see what happens.”

Baines said Rob Carter, the Lions shining light in 2009, would not be in the green and gold this season.

The new coach said he had two goals for Mittagong this year.

“Make the semi-finals and beat Moss Vale at Moss Vale,” he said, sparking an age-old Highlands rivalry.

The Lions first trial is February 20 against the newly promoted Roberston Spuddies (Group 7).

Elliott said the first social event of 2010 was in the pipelines as the new committee is keen to involve all players, family, ex-players and supporters as much as possible this year.