The Rangers will come up against Port Saints determined to make amends for last season after a 4-2 loss to Port in the qualifying final.

Rangers first grade coach, Chris Walker, said some changes have been made since that loss but those players still around would have that memory.

"Obviously there still a few players around from last year so for some there might be (feeling around the game) but we've got some new players who are just keen to get on the field," he told the Argus.

During regular season last year, Rangers came up against the Port Saints twice with a 0-0 draw in the first fixture and a 1-0 away win in the second.

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Walker expects they'll have a similar game plan to last year if their team list is the same.

"If they lineup similarly to last year I'd imagine it's going to be a pretty tough match, I know they were pretty strong through the middle of the park and that's where their attacks were centered around - that's where they have their strengths and cause damage so we'll have to combat that," he said.

July 1 saw all sporting clubs allowed to start contact training with previous restrictions limiting clubs to practicing in groups of 20 with social-distancing and hand sanitising enforced.

The changes to training numbers and contact means clubs will be able to do drills focused more on intensity and game-like situations.

"As the weeks went on we slowly started to get used to it, obviously the increase to 20 per group made it easier and allowed it be more free flowing and practice more as a team," Walker explained.

"The return to contact training will see more pressure on the ball, match-like games, obviously we used Thursday as a trial match between first and reserve grade to try and build on some match fitness because obviously it's a bit different to the general fitness we were previously working on."

Football in the region will be the first contact sport 1`to return to competitive competition with Netball to start on July 18 and Aussie Rules junior matches on July 19.

With the start to the football season cancelled, Walker said his players were keen to get out on the paddock.

"It's been a long time coming, unfortunately two weeks out before the season it all was put on hold, once their was a date finalised I think everyone started getting excited to have a run around again," he said.

The Kempsey Saints will kick off from 3pm at Eden Street Sporting Fields Field 1 with Rangers kicking off at the same time at Findlay Park, Port Macquarie.