Last season as a group, the players set high standards for themselves every time they put on the 1st XV shirt, and once again this season they have their own and the coaches’ expectations to live up to. So the whole focus this weekend is on our performance.

With strength in depth in every position this season, competition for first team places is fierce and the warm-up fixture will provide every squad member with an opportunity to force their way into the coaches’ thinking. If a player has an excellent game and then backs it up with attending training the following week then they will have put their name in the hat for selection against Stockport next Saturday in the Cheshire Vase fixture. It’s as simple as that.

No one is guaranteed their position and we always select on merit. We think our strength in depth this year is outstanding and we will have selection headaches in every position, but that is a great position to be in. A few players enhanced their chances in the way they have trained over the first five weeks of pre-season.

The coaching team has been delighted with pre-season preparations so far and believes the squad are further advanced than at the same stage last summer. We've been extremely pleased with the players’ attitude, commitment and work rate, Postie said. “I believe we are fitter than at this time last year and because we haven't brought in many new players and the majority of the coaching structure has been in place for over a year, we are tactically and organisationally well ahead of where we were last year. “Also, all of the new players have fitted in as you know, we place as much importance, if not more, on team culture and being a good clubman as we do on the rugby side.

“The victory in winning the Cheshire Vase at the end of last season brought the squad even closer together and we are in a really good place at the moment. Yes, it may be difficult keeping everyone happy, but as I said, if we are true to our selection policy of selecting on form and being open and honest with the players then hopefully we can maintain a tight-knit squad.”