Bears set sights on improved QCup year

BURLEIGH will charge into the Queensland Cup season on the back of a beefed-up preseason schedule.

While derby rivals Tweed Heads have two trial match weekends on their calendar for next month, the 2016 premiers are set to play four different sides before the season proper kicks off.

The Bears will first take on Easts at Firth Park on February 10 before playing Sunshine Coast the following Saturday at Burleigh’s junior fields.

They will round out their preparations with a tri-series at Pizzey Park against Tweed and Norths, with the three clubs playing 40 minutes against one another.

Burleigh are hoping for better luck with injuries after a horror pre-season run hampered their 2017 campaign in which they placed ninth overall.