The new UniBond Premier League season starts this weekend with Eastwood Town, currently favourites with the bookies to win the title, at home to relegated Leigh Genesis.

After a successful pre-season which saw The Badgers unbeaten and score freely throughout, boss Paul Cox feels his side are now ready as they can be for the new campaign.

He said: "The players are itching to get out there and start the season. We've prepared as well as we can, and pre-season has gone very well, but we really can't wait to get going."

Eastwood open against a side who have been reincarnated over the summer, having previously been known as Leigh RMI, and with a new 10,000 seater stadium, new colours and lots of new staff, they are a different proposition to days gone by.

"Leigh will be a very strong side this season and it's good to get them out of the way early on, though they may be saying the same about us," said Cox.

"This game will tell me a lot about how we've progressed and how much more needs to be done."

The Badgers then make the short journey to Watnall Road, home of Hucknall Town, to play the relocated Worksop Town next Wednesday night.

With it being the hosts' first competitive game at their new, season-long base, Cox feels the 'neutral ground' feel could play into Eastwood's hands.

He said: "It's good to play them there now as they won't have had much time to get used to the pitch and their surroundings, which is normally an advantage to most home teams.

"But it will be a tough test for us with it being a local derby and with plenty at stake."

A ten-match touchline ban will keep Cox from being as hands-on as he might like, following his three sendings-off last season.

He'll have access to the dressing room before games and at half-time, but will be forced to watch the matches from the stand.

His assistant John Ramshaw also faces a ban which although is shorter at 28 days, means he can't even be involved at all on match day.

Cox said: "John and I have to take our medicine.

"My disciplinary record was awful last year and it's something I certainly intend to improve this time around.

"I never go out to get sent off, but sometimes just get irate at a few things and last year was punished for it.

"Richard Cooper and Steve Hutchinson will run things from the bench, although at this level I can probably shout things from the stand and still be heard by the players!"

The ban means Cox won't return to the bench until the trip to Frickley Athletic on September 23.

The pre-season campaign ended last Saturday with a comprehensive 7-1 drubbing of Gresley Rovers, who are just one division below Eastwood and frequently get tipped to do well.

"I thought 7-1 flattered us a little bit but we played some very good stuff, particularly in the second half," said Cox.

"There's been times in pre-season where we've played, and scored goals, as if there's nobody in front of us, but while the results have been encouraging you can only be judged on how you do when the proper season gets underway."

Meanwhile, midfielder Wayne Diuk became Eastwood's 11th summer signing when he completed a deal with The Badgers this week.

Diuk, 28, has performed well both for Eastwood and against them when he represented Corby in pre-season, and Cox, who played alongside Diuk at Kettering Town, is delighted to have signed him.

He said: "I still think the best is yet to come from Wayne. He lost his way a bit in the last year or so but he's fit and showing signs of real quality, and he'll be an excellent asset to us."