LLANRHAEADR mark their return to the Huws Gray Alliance by welcoming title favourites Rhyl to Llansantffraid’s Treflan on Saturday.

The villagers will go into the game as underdogs but manager Marc Griffiths backed his side to rise to the occasion this season.

“We are the only club in the league with no playing budget but we aim to be competitive this season and complete a few shocks along the way.”

Penrhyncoch open their campaign with the visit of Porthmadog without suspended captain Owain James.

“Owain is out for the first four games which is a big blow,” said manager Gari Lewis who hopes to hand debuts to midfielders Luke Sherbon and Rhydian Davies.

“It’s a tough league,” added Lewis. “Our main aim is to be competitive and build on last season and ensure this club stays in the Alliance.”

Guilsfield hit the road for newly promoted Conwy Borough without injured defender Sam Lichfield.

Manager Nathan Leonard adds striker Steve Blenkinsop and defender James Parry to his squad following summer arrivals from Caersws and TNS while the Guils chief confirmed the summer strengthening would continue until the end of the month.

“The Alliance has improved yet again and will be another tough season for us,” said Leonard.

“Finishing fourth last season was a great achievement and yet again we proved people wrong. We are happy to go under the radar again and kept very quiet over the summer concentrating on ourselves and keeping the majority of the squad together.

“There will be a few arrivals this month which will add strength in depth and allow us hopefully to finish in the top six again and enjoy some cup runs.”