PUDSEY St Lawrence start the new All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League season as defending champions for the third time in four years on Saturday when they host Methley.

Saints will be doing all they can to win their 11th top-flight title but they are sure to have plenty of challengers.

Chief among them are likely to be New Farnley, who finished runners-up last season, and Hanging Heaton, who will be hoping to add league glory to their triple knockout success of 2018.

Woodlands and Cleckheaton will be aiming to lead the Bradford-based contingent which also includes Bradford & Bingley and newly-promoted Undercliffe.

Here is our club by club Premier Division guide ahead of the league season's first ball.

Pudsey St Lawrence

With two titles since the expanded Bradford Premier League was formed in 2016, they have been the dominant club.

But having lost three key players in Adam Waite (to New Farnley), Tom Hudson (to North Leeds) and Charlie Parker (to Hall Park), it could be a transitional year.

St Lawrence pride themselves in bringing their own youngsters through, with Harry Cullingford and Archie Scott set to be given a chance.

But allied to the experience of Mark Robertshaw - the only batsman to score over 1,000 runs last season - Chris Marsden and James Smith, you'd be a fool to rule them out.

Signings: Brian Devine (Fairburn)

New Farnley

Yet to win the league but you feel it could be only a matter of time with their level of investment.

Runners-up by three points last season, they have strengthened with the signings of Adam Waite - who won the title with St Lawrence last year - and wicketkeeper batsman Dan Hodgson from Farsley, who signalled early intent with 192 not out in the Heavy Woollen Cup last weekend.

Former Yorkshire leg spinner Mark Lawson has returned to the bowling ranks, which are also boosted by overseas amateur Max Law, son of Middlesex coach and former prolific Aussie batsman Stuart Law.

They are likely to be without injured fast bowler Andrew Brewster until the end of May but are definite contenders to add league silverware to the Priestley Cup they won in 2017.

Signings: Mark Lawson (Woodlands), Dan Hodgson (Farsley), Alex Kaye (Bradford & Bingley), Adam Waite (Pudsey St Lawrence), Max Law

Hanging Heaton

They took top billing in knockout competitions last year, winning a hat-trick of trophies, most notably the Vitality ECB Clubs T20 Cup on the national stage.

The Heavy Woollen Cup and the Black Sheep Champions Trophy were also put in the cabinet but the Batley side look strong contenders to add the league crown they won in 2017.

They have added a handful of signings to a settled squad, one of whom could provide a lucky omen. All-rounder Callum Bethel is the son of Andy Bethel, who was part of the team at Pudsey Congs that won five Bradford League titles in a row from 2000.

They also possess the best opening partnership in the league in Gary Fellows and Nick Connolly.

Signings: Callum Bethel (Whitley Hall), Craig Russell (New Farnley), Will Rich (Townville)

Woodlands

The Oakenshaw club have put their faith in Cieran Garner, who has come up through the ranks, to lead them in place of Tim Jackson.

All eyes will be on New Zealand overseas player Brad Schmulian, who set a Kiwi record by making a double hundred on his first-class debut. He is already here ahead of their tough opener at New Farnley.

Just as key will be the form of wicket-taking bowlers Chris Brice and Kez Ahmed, while they will also look to increase consistency to their batting.

Signings: Jak Murphy (Morley), Brad Schmulian (overseas)

Methley

Also under new captaincy, with Yorkshire seconds player Jared Warner taking over the reins from Grant Soames.

New arrival Warner comes having won the Yorkshire South Premier League with Wakefield Thornes.

Matthew Waite's good form for Yorkshire might limit his availability for the club where he started as a junior. Promising young spinners Josh and Harry Sullivan could also be involved with Yorkshire Academy.

Adam Patel and Marcus Warmsley will be key, while Methley have signed Sri Lankan Sudara Udagedara.

Signings: Mohammed Usman (Moorlands), Amir Hussain (Bilton), Connor Hyde (Castleford), Jared Warner (Wakefield Thornes), Sudara Udagedara (overseas)

Farsley

No doubt keen to put the troubles surrounding last season's Priestley Cup final withdrawal behind them, the Red Lane club will start the campaign without key performer James Logan due to injury.

The spinner broke his thumb on Yorkshire's pre-season tour in South Africa and needed surgery. His influence was huge last year as he won the Premier Division's all rounder of the year.

Farsley will also be without the departed Dan Broadbent and James Wainman but welcome Otley duo Ben Morley and Paul Nicholson fresh from their Aire-Wharfe League title triumph, while former Bradford & Bingley player Matt Simpson returns to the competition after a spell in the Ribblesdale League with Settle.

Yorkshire's Josh Poysden has also joined.

Signings: Saif Zaib (High Wycombe), Josh Poysden (Bant Green), Chris Beech (Blythe), Ben Morley (Otley), Matthew Simpson (Settle), Paul Nicholson (Otley), Jack Rowett (New Farnley)

Cleckheaton

Cleck boast plenty of first-class experience which makes them a match for anyone on their day.

They will look to key players such as John Wood and Nick Walker, while their most intriguing signing is former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq, who will bolster their batting as well as bowling firepower.

Andy Garrod is back and apparently looking good in the nets after a spell out but the availability of Tom Kohler-Cadmore may be limited due to his involvement with Yorkshire.

Cleck are potential dark horses, particularly if they can kick their habit of being notoriously slow starters.

Signings: Azeem Rafiq (Sheffield Collegiate), Craig Fletcher (Kirkburton), James Ives (Liversedge), Joe Wood (Spen Victoria)

Townville

The return of captain and all-rounder Jack Hughes following a broken leg is a huge boost for Townville.

Conor Harvey, who took 51 wickets last season, will be key in the bowling department while the club will hope for good contributions from the brothers of Tim Bresnan - Nick and Ritchie.

Signings: Lee Dobson (Fairburn), Harry Warwick (Grimsby), Alfie McMillan (Scholes - WL)

Lightcliffe

The Halifax club are under new leadership in the form of Ian Philliskirk, who led Baildon to their surprise title triumph in 2009.

Philliskirk returns for his second spell from Ossett and takes over from Matt Baxter, who has signed for Morley.

Alex Stead is likely to provide a key source of runs as Lightcliffe look to continue punching above their weight.

Signings: Evan Edwards (Spen Victoria), Josh Cooper (Stamford Bridge), Ibrar Younis (East Bierley), Ian Philliskirk (Ossett), Christian Silkstone (Triangle), Benjamin Cliff (Copley)

Bradford & Bingley

It was a tough season last year for the Wagon Laners, who ended just one place above the relegation zone.

Under Matthew Duce, they will be hoping to improve on that with a mid-table finish.

Key to their prospects will be bowler Jack Hartley staying injury free.

And they hope that youngster Kyme Tahirkeli can continue to develop his batting prowess. Tahirkeli showed his potential last season when he smashed an unbeaten 142 off 134 balls against Cleckheaton.

New signing Daniel Revis from Burley-in-Wharfedale has played for Yorkshire Academy.

Signings: Lawrence Davis (Spen Victoria), Lewis Brown (Oakworth), Graham Whiles (Knaresborough), Patrick Dixon (Pool), Daniel Revis (Burley-in-Wharfedale)

Undercliffe

Promoted as champions last season, the Intake Road club will be keen to consolidate their place in the top flight.

They will be spearheaded by Khalid Usman, who won the league batting and bowling averages in their Championship One triumph.

It will be interesting to see how big-hitting new recruit Farouk Alam fares in the Premier Division, having scored 845 runs in topping the batting averages in Championship Two for Altofts last season.

Also key for Undercliffe is opening bowling pair Zeeshan Qasim and Craig Wiseman but the experienced Gulsheraz Ahmed has departed.

Signings: Muhammad Ulfat (Sandy Lane), Mohamed Sudase (Thornbury), Luke Heinemann (Morley), Jason Marshall (Desborough), Farouk Alam (Altofts)

Wrenthorpe

Promoted in second place behind Undercliffe, Wrenthorpe are also out to prove they can mix it with the elite.

They will have to do so without their opening bowling pair of Jonathan Rudge and Awais Ejaz.

The duo finished one and two respectively in the division's leading wicket-takers but both have moved on.

Signings: Jonathan Donnelly (Pudsey Congs), Havar Munir (East Keswick), Oliver Kilburn (Moorlands), Harry Clibbens (Cawthorne), Irfan Amjad (Golcar)

Overseas signings: Sami Ullah (Pakistan) - Batley; Kirt Brown Jnr (Australia) - East Bierley; Arsaam Malik (Pakistan) - Bankfoot; Bradley Schmulian ( New Zealand) - Woodlands; James Sheehan (Australia) - Adwalton; Izaiah Dion Lange (New Zealand) - Ossett; Tyson Freeman (Australia) - Great Preston; Sudara Udegedra (Sri Lanka) - Methley; Hazrat Shah (Pakistan) - Jer Lane; Billy Campbell (Australia) - Northowram Fields; James Van der Merwe (South Africa) - East Ardsley.