On Saturday, not only will they be at the helm of Olympic for the Northern NSW National Premier League season-opener against Adamstown Rosebud at Darling Street Oval, the former A-League stars will play.

Ryan, 39, will be a senior figure in a youthful strike force.

Joel, a former A-League golden boot-winner and the Newcastle Jets' leading goal-scoring of all time, will marshal the defence.

"In terms of playing, we know what to do. Coaching, not so much," said Ryan, who is two years Joel's junior. "We are completely new to coaching. We have a lot to learn in that respect. We are just up for the challenge and will give it a crack.

"When Joel first told me he had the Olympic job and asked if I would be his assistant coach, I said 'no'. He gave me the pitch about how good a club it was and I went down and met with everybody and joined in a training session. That turned into a trial game ... as soon as I got involved, I just flicked the switch and thought, I know how to do this, I enjoy doing this, why did I have three years off."

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Griffiths said the brothers' on-field roles will be focused on teaching and providing direction, hence Joel's move into defence.

"Fortunately we are still able to get on the field and talk to the boys," Griffiths said. "We really want them to step up and take that position. The young boys up front - Jared Muller, Luke Vallone, Jed Hornery - have been doing a good job. They are already good strikers but I can see them developing into really good strikers.

"Like everyone, I laughed when Joel said he was going to play at the back. Graham Arnold did it at Northern Spirit. I'm assuming Joel got the idea from that. Our our dad also did it in the later stages of his career."

Glen Chapman will man the sideline.

"He has been awesome," Griffiths said. "He has a really good understanding of the league and the players. He has been a vital part of the progression of the team."

The Griffiths brothers retired after helping Lambton Jaffas to a championship in 2018.

"I spoke to [Jaffas stalwart] Chris Sneddon before we joined Olympic out of respect to him and what he does to help players who have retired from the A-League," Griffiths said.

Olympic have lost keeper Nate Cavaliere (Magic) and defensive utility Reece Papas (Jaffas) from the side which finished third last season.

"We haven't spent too much money," Griffiths said. "Our focus is on building the team we have got. The club is all about that - developing their juniors and bringing them in. We have two young keepers Jez Murray and Daniel Eisenhauer, who have been doing a fantastic job. They can both play with their feet which is important. The boys are all super fit and pushing hard. No-one's position is guaranteed including my own."

Rosebud also have a new coach in David Rosewarne and are too going through a rebuilding phase.

"We played them in a trial and are not underestimating them," Griffiths said. "They are a good, young team. They were well organised and fight hard."

In other games Saturday, Michael Bridges takes charge of Edgeworth for the first time against Maitland at Jack McLaughlan Oval in a replay of last season's grand final and former Edgeworth coach Damian Zane steer Broadmeadow Magic against Lake Macquarie at Macquarie Field.

On Sunday, Weston are at home to Lambton Jaffas and Charlestown host Valentine.

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