After the weeks of pre-season training and the necessary – if largely meaningless – warm-up matches, it is back to the real stuff this weekend when the Spar Mid Wales League and Mid Wales League (South) seasons get underway.
Newly-promoted Llanidloes Town have the honour of hosting the season-opener in the first division of the Spar League in which they will host a Llanrhaeadr side that spent much of last season on the fringes of the title race.
Saturday will see four further first division games – Penparcau will begin the defence of their title with a tricky-looking game at Llansantffraid Village while Newbridge – who have been busy in the recruitment stakes this summer – will open their campaign with a home match against Carno.
Berriew against Builth Wells will be a meeting between two sides who were two divisions apart at this stage last season while Waterloo Rovers will open up with a home meeting with Dolgellau.
There are a host of Welsh Cup qualifying round ties this weekend so this means there is only one match in the second division in which Abermule make the trip to Four Crosses.
In the Mid Wales League (South), Presteigne Reserves will head to Talgarth Town Reserves, while there is another decent match in prospect at the Weirglodd where Rhayader Town Reserves – who will presumably be reasonably strong – will take on Hay St Marys.
The league’s two newcomers are both due start at home – Knighton Victoria will host Newbridge Reserves while Bronllys will mark their debut with a home game against Penybont – who, as they have gone back to being one club – have dropped the ‘Athletic’ from their name.
Knighton Town will make the trip to Builth Wells Reserves while last season’s wooden-spoonists (if that is a word) St Harmon will head to The Broadway for a game against Llandrindod Wells Reserves.