AFC Telford United launch an eagerly-anticipated Blue Square North campaign at home to Blyth Spartans tomorrow, with boss Rob Smith declaring: “We’re ready to go.”

The Bucks have come through pre-season unbeaten, with the highlight being the victory on penalties against Shrewsbury Town in the Shropshire Senior Cup.

Smith’s side have impressed with their attractive brand of passing football and, while insisting the real test is yet to come, he has been encouraged.

“It’s as much as we could have asked for,” said the Telford boss. “It all goes out of the window tomorrow if we don’t carry that form into the league.

“But it is still important because I don’t want to be here, the day before the start of the season, scratching my head and wondering what’s wrong. Fortunately I don’t have that problem.

“We’ve been looking forward to the real thing for a couple of weeks now,” he added. “We felt as if we were ready after the Shrewsbury game and we just can’t wait.”

Tomorrow’s opponents have had a change of manager over the summer, the experienced Mick Tait replacing the long-serving Harry Dunn in the Spartans hotseat.

But Smith doesn’t expect that to make any difference to what has always been a closely-fought contest.

Skipper Stuart Whitehead is ruled out of the Bucks’ line-up by a knee injury, with Jimmy Turner likely to deputise in his place.

But Smith has an otherwise fully fit squad from which to select his side – with new signings Gareth Jelleyman, Tom Field, Steve Torpey and Matt Nolan all hoping to be involved in some capacity.

Right-back Lee Vaughan and midfielder-cum-forward Phil Trainer are both available after sitting out the Shropshire Senior Cup final due to suspensions carried over from the end of last season.