The defending champions SBB Vukovi are hosting last year’s contender Ljubljana Silverhawks in the season opener. The game will be played on Saturday, 18th April on the artificial turf field at Ada Ciganlija in Belgrade.
Both teams have endured losses from their last season’s rosters. SBB Vukovi’s six starting players from last season left the team to play in Turkey. They have tried to compensate for that by bringing their new head coach, Brian Mayper and the new leader of the pack, Miles Gates. Domestic additions have followed as well in Marko Bakovic, national team running back and Nikola Simovic, up-and-coming receiving target. With a star wide receiver, Anthony Washington, coming back for the third season, it might be enough for another great ride.
On the opposite end of the field, the Silverhawks will be without their reliable receiving weapon who lit up the defenses in the last two years, Bojan Justin. Their head coach Rok Štamcar will have to find other options for Clark Evans, a new prototypical quarterback. At the same time, the defense will be helped by the new lineman, Silas Sarvinski, pinning his ears back and chasing after quarterbacks on passing downs. The Silverhawks have a history of playing bigger than they are. Usually seen as underdogs, they were in the habit of staging big surprises in previous seasons.