Mark Yates is all too aware of the tough task that will await his Harriers side when newly-promoted Hayes & Yeading visit Aggborough Stadium on the opening day of the season.

It's the third time in five season Harriers will start at home against 'new' opposition - back in 2006 St. Albans rocked Aggborough by surging into a 3-0 half-time lead before winning 3-1.

Last term saw Lewes visit for their first game ever at Conference level, getting a 1-1 draw.

Given that both those sides went on to be relegated empathically, it's clear that nothing can be taken for granted on the first day of a campaign as all teams battle to make an instant impact.

"We know that every game in our league is tough but I find it remarkable that we keep getting new boys at home [to start] when there's no worse a time to be playing them," Yates told harriers.co.uk this morning.

"New teams will be massively up for it and they'll be at their strongest - they will relish the thought of coming here and turning in us over and it's going to be difficult.

"We've struggled against these teams on the first day - Lewes came here last season and got a point and celebrated like they'd won the league.

"It's disappointing but come the start of the season we'll be ready - Hayes & Yeading will come here and be keen to do all they can to get a result."

This season's fixture list sees August and September fuller than in many previous campaigns, leaving some room for the inevitable later-

"The good thing is that the league has listened to the gripes a few people had last season and they have put more fixtures in early.

"Hopefully we won't have the backlog we had last time around when teams had a bit of success in Cup competitions, and the weather obviously played a part."