COMBINED League Premier Division champions Hartley Wintney go in search of more FA Cup glory on Saturday with a trip to league rivals Spelthorne Sports.

Hartley last season made the third qualifying round, before losing narrowly at National League South side Eastbourne Borough.

This is the Row’s first game of the season and it is sure to prove a stiff test.

They have added a couple of new faces to the squad in experienced shot stopper Craig Bradshaw from Farnborough and also former Basingstoke Town midfielder Steve Laidler, who last season played at Godalming.

Goalkeeper Craig Atkinson is the major departure to league rivals Badshot Lea and Toby Jannaway is currently sidelined after an operation, but will feature later in the campaign.

Also back for another campaign is club captain and goal machine Sam Argent.

Hartley finished their pre-season with a superb 5-0 win over Winchester City on Tuesday evening, while Spelthorne lost 2-1 to visiting Met Police last Saturday.

Looking ahead to his side’s opening game joint manager Daniel Brownlie said: “Spelthorne in the FA Cup is going to be very difficult.

"They are a big and powerful unit with plenty of quality and match winners in their side."

He added: “We’ll certainly have to hit the ground, the boys have worked hard over pre-season and are in a good condition, so they’ll be no excuses come Saturday.”

If the FA Cup is decided on Saturday and there is not a replay on Tuesday night at Hartley, the league champions will start the defence of their crown with a trip to Farnham on Tuesday.

The Row’s first home league game is scheduled for a week on Saturday when newly promoted CB Hounslow will be the visitors.

Looking ahead to the league campaign Brownlie said: “The ambition is simple - it’s to improve.

"We of course want to challenge for every piece of silverware that is available to us and we have a strength in depth that should allow us to do that."

He added: “We are reminded regularly that we are a small village club, but don’t be fooled it’s a club with a big heart that wants to push on.

In the manager’s eyes the two sides which are likely to challenge them for the title are Guildford City and Camberley.

Guildford were relegated from the Southern League and want to bounce straight back. and Camberley have finished in the top three in the premier division for the past three years.

Brownlie said: “There is a lot of talk about the amount of money Guildford City are spending and that going into it that they are the favourites.

"Again talk that Camberley will once again be very strong, I can’t disagree with either but ultimately our focus and mentality is not being changed by that, for us it’s one game at a time and we streamline our efforts on winning that match.”