David Warner's first-up grade cricket opponents tomorrow are planning to go easy on one of the game's greatest sledgers.
St George have put a strict ban on sledging the fallen Australian opener but will unleash an all-test bowling attack on Warner and his Randwick-Petersham teammates at Coogee Oval.
Former internationalTrent Copeland will join Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood in the Saints' pace arsenal, reports the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Sledging is almost as notorious in grade cricket as it is for the Australian team that had Warner front and centre as its attack dog.
Warner went through his paces at Randwick-Petersham training yesterday at Maroubra, but despite the ground being just around the corner from where he grew up, it was a million miles away from the professional world he is now banned from.
The nets were too wet for batting following the morning downpour and players turn up in dribs and drabs depending on when their bosses let them off work.
On the other side of Sydney in Caringbah, Steve Smith was doing exactly the same as he prepares to make his return for junior club Sutherland.
The notorious events from Sandpapergate in South Africa could form easy ammunition for a grade team coming face-to-face with a fallen star, but St George skipper Nick Stapleton declared baiting Warner would be completely off limits.
"No absolutely not. Absolutely not. They've (Warner and Smith) been through a hell of a lot and they made a mistake, but it's to their credit they're turning up and playing grade cricket," Stapleton told The Daily Telegraph.
"They're doing everything they need to make sure they get back into the Australian team so I'd be very disappointed if something came out about those particular things. It'll be tough cricket played but I certainly don't think that will be on anyone's agenda.
"I don't feel I need to say anything to any of the boys because it just wouldn't be anything that would be even thought of."
