The Steelmen started their pre-season preparations with a 26-19 win over Blackwood at Glanyrafon Park on Saturday with Dan Dearden warming up for the new season by claiming a hat trick.
And head coach Neil Edwards believes his squad can overcome injuries to the likes of Damian Hudd and Tom Macpherson to enjoy a successful campaign.
Both players have undergone knee surgery with last years’ captain Hudd out until October with Macpherson expected to return in the New Year. Hudd’s replacement as captain for the start of the season has yet to be decided.
“We’ve freshened our squad up this year, we’ve got a good development policy and we’ve made an effort to lower our age range to develop future professionals,” said Edwards. “We’ve got a good hard working bunch and no real superstars,” he added.
After a WRU review, the newly formed Championship promises to be an extremely competitive division but Edwards has every confidence in his side despite not knowing much about some of this year’s opposition.
“We have won our league for the last two years and we know what we’re getting with the sides from the east,” he said.
“But the west is something of an unknown quantity.
“We’re not sure what the quality of opposition will be like and it’s pretty much an unknown but we’re looking to win it.”
After victory over Blackwood, the Steelmen go to Gwernyfed next Saturday before their last warm up game at home to Carmarthen Quins. They then start their Championship campaign away to Glamorgan Wanderers a week later.
“It’s a fresh, new challenge, the rugby will be more attritional so we’ll see what happens,” added Edwards.
