FARNWORTH Social Circle captain Tim Barrow is expecting a number of clubs to be challenging to take his side's Bolton League title from them this season.

The Piggott Street club's new skipper is confident Circle have a team to rival anyone, despite losing four key players from last season.

But he is respectful of the quality of teams who will be lining up alongside them in the new 10-team Premier Division.

"Our team has got even more depth in our batting this year," he said.

"Last year we batted down to eight or nine, which is a long way, but this year it's nine or 10. There's not another team in the league with depth like that.

"With most teams if you get through the top three or four batsmen you are looking to roll them out.

"That's not the case with us and hopefully our batting strength can see us through."

Barrow believes Circle are going to need it, too, with a number of other clubs looking strong ahead of the new season which starts with three Saturdays of Peter Stafford Trophy matches before the 18-match league begins.

"It's going to be a hotly-contested league with tough games," he said.

"We've lost four key players. Matt Parkinson and Chris Walsh have left and Dave Mather and Rick Hamblett have gone to Kearsley.

"But we've brought in Richard Dempster from Leigh, essentially to replace Mather opening the bowling.

"Jake O'Byrne has come over from Bradshaw, he'll be wicketkeeper and strengthen the middle order batting, and we've brought in Stephen Edwards from Walkden and Chris Taylor has come back. He's a middle order batsman who came through the ranks here 10 years ago and has been playing in Cheshire.

"The good thing about this year, and it's no disrespect to last year when all the clubs were in one division, but you have strong teams from top to bottom in the top division.

"Every game will be competitive this season. There will be no easy games so it will be good cricket."

Like last season Social Circle will not employ a professional and will have Australian Jake Scicluna as their overseas player.

Barrow expects last season's main challengers Walkden as well as Kearsley, Westhoughton, Farnworth, Horwich and Bradshaw to have a big say in the Premier Division title race, and does not underestimate the other four teams, Eagley, Heaton and Lostock.

"Kearsley have signed a lot of good players and a good pro," he said.

"Walkden are a strong side, pretty much similar to last season. Westhoughton are strong too, Farnworth are a testing side and Brett Pelser's a quality player at Horwich who've got a strong bowling attack and a lot of good juniors.

"They're a young side although Liam Bones pushes the average age up.

"Bradshaw will surprise a few people too, we always seem to struggle against them for some reason.

"It's going to be a strong competition but we're not under any pressure because we don't have a lot of money.

"The pressure will be on the big spenders like Farnworth and Westhoughton."

Tomorrow's fixtures:

Bolton League Peter Stafford Trophy, 1pm start

Group A: Heaton v Horwich, Darcy Lever v Blackrod.

Group B: Farnworth SC v Bradshaw, Astley Bridge v Atherton.

Group C: Lostock v Westhoughton, Golborne v Daisy Hill

Group D: Walkden v Eagley, Tonge v Adlington.

Group E: Farnworth v Kearsley, Little Hulton v Little Lever.