NEWCASTLE TOWN manager Scott Dundas says there is no pressure on his players tomorrow when fancied AFC Rushden & Diamonds are the visitors.
The Northamptonshire side just missed out on promotion to the Premier Division last season when they were beaten by St Ives in the Southern League Division One Central play-off final.
In the summer during the restructuring of the league, Diamonds were moved into the Evo-Stik League and are once again being tipped as one of the teams to watch.
Around 200 travelling fans are expected at the M-Club Stadium tomorrow, which will almost treble last season's average gate.
Dundas, who took over the managerial reins at Newcastle in the summer, says it's going to be a testing start for his team.
“It's a tough start for us with Rushden & Diamonds tomorrow and then Belper Town away on Tuesday.
“But I have told the players there is no pressure on them. It's going to be a season of consolidation. There has been no talk of going for promotion or anything like that. We'll see where we are at Christmas and take it from there," said the manager.
Dundas inherited some of last season's Newcastle squad, but has brought in around 10 new players, most of whom were with him at Norton United before the club folded and several finished last season together at Leek Town.
Tom Fogg, Sam Bradbury, Niall Green, Richard Smith, Chris Baker, Jon Beaumont, Kyle Diskin and Lee Cropper all played for Dundas at Norton and were with him during his short spell at Witton Albion.
He says it's great to get them all back together again.
“We had a lot of success at Norton and I will be looking to bring that success to Newcastle Town."