Serbia and Germany have announced their 20-man squads for the opening clash of the four nation 2012-13 RLEF European Shield, which begins on Saturday in Heidleberg.

The visiting Serbians will be coached by one of their injured stars, Dorćol half-back Dalibor Vukanovic, who is sidelined with a calf injury. He is joined by Soni Radovanovic, who is rested following a tough Elite 1 campaign in France.

“If we stay disciplined and stick to our game plan we can perform very well against Germany,” Vukanovic commented, “We know that the Germans have big forwards and skilled pivots but we’ll try to play to our strengths.”

The squad is drawn exclusively from players tested in Belgrade’s 40-26 win against Serbian Country in their Origin clash and will be led by hooker Zoran Pesic. An ever-present in the national team since debuting in Lebanon in 2004, Pesic will win his 25^th cap and his experience will be vital in guiding six debutants, four of whom graduate to the national team through the Serbian rugby league’s youth ranks.

Dan Stocks coach of Shield holders Germany is looking to register a first win against Serbia in four attempts. Two of those losses were in the Shield the last, a 40-14 defeat in Belgrade, closer than the score line suggests.

“In 2010 we competed with them for 65 minutes before letting in some soft tries,“ recalls Stocks. “Both myself and the players that played then are looking forward to having another shot at them.”

Ten of the German squad played in that match while only two of the Serbs did and the leadership of Australian-based duo Damien Seibold and debutant Joshua Danzey will be important. Danzey, a 20-year old hooker from Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles will play a key role at dummy-half, guiding five debutants, including former German rugby union national team captain, Jens Schmidt.

’’I’m really excited to be playing Serbia in the opening game,“ said Stocks. ’’There are some new players in the squad who I can’t wait to see and some key ones coming back for the Russia game a week later. It is a huge opportunity for the team this weekend to impress and keep their places in the side.“

Pictured: Serbia’s Zoran Pesic (right) will look to resume hostilities with Germany

GERMANY 20-MAN SQUAD
Christoph Huber (Bad Reichenhall), Sebastian Roczyn, Lucas Marin (Baden Pirates) Jacob Handy, Thomas Isaak, Sebastian Vermaat (Calbach Racoons), Ben Behr-Heyder, Liam Doughton, Fabrice Fehlemann, Nico Koch, (Cologne), Mawuli Amefia, Loris Geibel, Kevin Klein, Christian Mann, Jens Schmidt, Vincent Spies (Heidelberg Lions), Nick Keinhorst, Kristian Keinhorst (Leeds Akkies), Damien Seibold (Rockhampton Brothers), Joshua Danzey (Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles).

SERBIA 20-MAN SQUAD
Lazar Živković, Miloš Zogović (Car Lazar), Mirko Božović, Dimitris Dajč, Stefan Nedeljković, Stefan Nikolić, Stevan Stevanović, Ivan Šušnjara, Nikša Unković, Dalibor Vukanović (Dorćol), Pero Madžarević, Slaviša Zekić (Radnički Nova Pazova), Miloš Ćalić, Vladislav Dedić, Vojislav Dedić, Vladica Nikolić, Zlatko Pešić, Zoran Pešić (capt.), Velibor Srećković, Nebojša Živanović (Red Star Belgrade)