LEIGH RMI are about to discover how successful their pre-season has really been on Saturday when they face Dagenham and Redbridge on day one of the Conference season.

Manager Mark Patterson says the summer break has been a positive one for the Railwaymen, but was hit with an unexpected blow earlier in the week when the signing of centre-half Paul Browne hit trouble at the eleventh hour.

Instead, Paul Shepherd -- the versatile right-sided player released by Scarborough at the end of last season -- has put pen to paper on a 12 month deal in time to face the highly-fancied East Londoners.

"The Dagenham match will be a yardstick for us to see how far we've come," admitted Patterson, whose side have been commended for commitment and attractive football alike in the close season.

"I've got a smaller budget to work on but one area where we can match the big teams is in effort and enthusiasm and I'm sure we'll do that", he added.

Dagenham missed out on promotion to Doncaster in the play-off final three months ago and to Boston on goal difference 12 months before, which goes some way to explaining the contrasting fortunes of the two sides since they were both promoted to the Conference in the summer of 2000.

Leigh managed to stay in the division thanks to Keith Scott's strike at Kettering on the final day of last season.

"Hopefully the crowd will get on Keith's back a bit," joked Patterson.

"I'm hoping for a bit of atmosphere to lift the lads and we can see what Keith's made of now he's playing in their colours."

But RMI have managed to spring the odd surprise on Garry Hill's side -- who were inspired to a league 'double' over them two seasons ago by Marcus Hallows, who has returned to Leigh after a season at Stalybridge.

The club are also expected to hand debuts to new signings Dave McNiven and Warren Peyton as they aim for their first ever win on the opening day of the Conference season.