THE Ryman League season kicks off on Saturday and there can be no more attractive game than the Premier Division tussle at Church Road between Hayes and Canvey Island.

Canvey, just pipped to the championship and a place in the Football Conference by Gravesend and Northfleet last season, are again among the title favourites, the big-spending Essex club having put together a very talented and large squad.

Hayes, relegated from the Conference, will have an early insight into what might be required to return to non-league football's elite at the first time of asking, and if they can match Canvey on Saturday, they can start feeling optimistic about the season as a whole.

The Missioners follow that with a trip to Hampton and Richmond on Tuesday, which on the face of it will be an easier game, but Hampton have been a determined and hard-working Premier side for some years.

Our three sides from Division One North are also in action twice, and many are tipping Yeading to have a particularly good season under mustard-keen boss Johnson Hippolyte. Ding start with a trip to Hertford Town and then follow on Tuesday with a home game against Great Wakering Rovers.

Uxbridge played well in patches last season, including a notable performance against promoted Aylesbury at Honeycroft, and they are on their travels for the opening game at Barton Rovers, followed by a home game against a Thame United side like many others, feeling the financial pinch of non-league football.

Northwood, like their two local rivals, have an away game on Saturday followed by a home fixture on Tuesday. Oxford City's cosy ground at Court Place Farm will be the stage for their opening game, followed by a home match against Barton three days later. Northwood have been an attractive side going forward but probably need to stiffen their defence to mount a serious promotion challenge.