CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier expects to come up against one of the National League South’s front-runners for promotion when they begin the new season away at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

Hemel finished fifth in the table last term to qualify for the play-offs and Collier believes they will be amongst the contenders at the top of the table once again.

The games come thick and fast for the Bluebirds as Slough Town are the first visitors to Hardenhuish Park of the campaign on Tuesday night, before Chippenham have another home game against Welling on the second weekend of the season.

“Hemel are one of 10 or 12 teams to have gone on record to say they expect to be right in the mix this season,” said Collier.

“They were very competitive last season and they lost in the play-offs to the eventual promoted team in Braintree.

“They have added to their squad and it is always a difficult place to go. It is certainly a very tough start for us.

“Once the season starts, we are on our way and I think that is good.

“It gets the players right into it, and once we’ve had that first game, we have two home games to look forward to.

“It is three very tough games to start with, but I imagine I would be saying that most Saturdays and Tuesday nights anyway.”

Chippenham rounded off their pre-season friendly programme with a 3-0 win at Southern League side Yate Town on Saturday and Collier says there are only minor issues the Bluebirds have to deal with ahead of their competitive opener.

“Our squad is in good shape,” said Collier.

“It is just Yan Klukowski who will miss out for a few weeks and then hopefully once he is back, we will have a clean bill of health.”