All the hard work of recent weeks will be put to the test when Chorley begin their UniBond League season on Saturday, with a trip to take on the improved Eastwood Town followed three days later with the visit of Mark Molyneaux's Rossendale United.

Magpie player-manager Shaun Teale, who last season rescued a side teetering on the brink of relegation with improved organisation and a handful of signings, has assembled a squad that looks strong enough to make inroads into the battle to climb out of the First Division.

"It's up to us to work hard enough to get the best start we can - we_ve all been itching to get going into the new season," said Teale.

"I know our performances in pre-season matches haven't been the best, but it's more about fitness and we have been taking on opposition from higher leagues.

"We want to put a product together that wins matches and is attractive to watch - and we want to take the club higher."

The squad for the opening game is expected to include new signings Martin Clark, Kyle Armstrong, Anthony Bowden, Gary Martindale, Peter Wright and Frannie Barry as well as Chris McGrath, who recovered from a late ankle fitness scare in time to play in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Runcorn FC Halton.

Bowden scored a late consolation goal against Runcorn, who were relegated from the Nationwide North to the UniBond Premier earlier this year.

Teale is likely to pick the lineup from the following, in formation order: Paul Horridge, Ian Callaghan, Clark, Teale, Jamie Price, Jamie Squires, John Bluck, Jamie Vermiglio (captain), McGrath, Armstrong, Bowden, Martindale,Wright, Barry.