A Mugs Guide to the Ryobi Cup ahead of Sunday's series opener between NSW and Tasmania Ryobi Cup dangermen (from left) Dave Warner of the Blues, Victoria's Fawad Ahmed and Redbacks paceman Kane Richardson. THE Ryobi Cup kicks off on Sunday and it's like you've never seen it before. Here's everything you need to know CRICKET Australia has given the 2013 Ryobi Cup format a total revamp, with the 50-over competition to be run and won over a whirlwind four weeks - as opposed to last year's 165 days. Twenty matches will be played between this Sunday's opener between NSW and Tasmania and the October 27 final in a bid to replicate the carnival-like feel of a World Cup. And every match will be played in Sydney at one of five suburban grounds - Bankstown, Blacktown, Hurstville, North Sydney and Drummoyne, which will host its first day/night fixture on October 22. After six matches for each team, the top-ranked side will go straight through to the final, while teams two and three will play off for the other spot. Rob Quiney on the attack for the Bushrangers. AFTER losing his place in the Australian side, David Warner will be primed for a Ryobi Cup resurgence. The explosive opener hasn't made a domestic 50-over appearance in nearly two years and will relish the challenge of returning to the competition where he made his name as Australia's most explosive hitter. The Bushrangers will look to the ridiculously consistent Rob Quiney to set the tone at the top of the order again. How's this for a stat: over the past two seasons he has had the same average (44) and strike rate (97). Sydney's smaller suburban grounds should suit his power game. One man making waves in across Bass Strait is 21-year-old Jordan Silk after a number of crucial hands at the top of the Tigers" order, including an unforgettable ton in the Shield final. Sydney-born Silk will be sure to put his local knowledge to good use on the grounds where he learnt his trade playing in Sydney Grade for Penrith. NOT only does he have one of the best nicknames in world sport, left-armer Gary "Minigolf" Putland also forms one of the most lethal strike duos in the competition, alongside last season's leading wicket-taker Kane Richardson at the Redbacks. A couple of Glenn McGrath clones in Tasmania's Jackson Bird and Blues youngster Josh Hazlewood will be eager to continue their push for national honours. Josh Hazlewood celebrates a wicket for the Blues. THE most talked about leggie since Shane Warne, Victoria's Fawad Ahmed is out to put the recent VB controversy behind him and give the selectors no choice but to include him in the upcoming Ashes series. Incumbent Test spinner Nathan Lyon is heading home to NSW. In return, South Australia have snared promising young leggie Adam Zampa from the Blues. DARREN Berry's Redbacks revolution continues to take shape, securing the services of Australian cricket's No. 1 redhead Andrew McDonald from the Bushrangers in a swap for fiery all-rounder Dan Christian. THE biggest losses to this year's Ryobi Cup come via the retirements of legends Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey from domestic cricket.