After being under friendly fire for the last few weeks in pre-season, Silsden are on the front line on Saturday.

The Cobbydalers make the trip to the Stoke area to face Alsager Town on the opening day of the North West Counties League Premier Division.

As they hunt an early victory, boss Andy Geary admits he does not know what to expect.

He said: “When you go into a new season you are going in blind. You have no idea which teams have picked up good players over the close season and which teams have lost their best men.

“We did the double over Alsager last season but it really is too difficult to assess how we will get on at the weekend.”

Elsewhere, Guiseley have a hastily-arranged trip to South Yorkshire tomorrow night (7.45pm) to take on a Barnsley XI at the Championship club’s Academy complex, which is adjacent to Oakwell.

Lions fans are welcome and admission is free.

Also tonight, Brighouse Town visit Evo-Stik North side Harrogate Railway for what will be their final friendly. They were due to visit AFC Emley, who are now playing Huddersfield Town.

Thackley visit Settle United on Saturday for their annual pre-season double header.

The Dennyboys always journey to the north Yorkshire club with their entire senior squad for two consecutive games. The new management pairing of Lee Clapham and Dave Morgan will field a reserve side in the first game and a first team in the second.

With the Dennyboys’ opening league game at Garforth Town taking place the following Saturday, it will be a good opportunity for the whole squad to stake their claim for a starting spot.

Albion Sports will be rivals of Thackley in the coming season following their Northern Counties East League Division One title win last term and Kulwinder Sandhu’s men will be honing their fitness with a final warm-up game at Wayne Benn’s AFC Goole.

Liversedge missed out on a friendly in midweek, when their home game against Frickley Athletic was shelved, but they will be in action on Saturday when they visit Pontefract Collieries.