AS the new Northern Premier League season looms, new Warrington Rylands boss Mark Duffy is in an enviable position.

A positive pre-season at Gorsey Lane has stirred hopes that the 2024-25 campaign will be as successful on the field as the one that went before it, when Blues confounded expectations to reach the NPL Premier Division play-offs.

Duffy, who finished the season in interim charge alongside fellow senior player Dean Furman, is now the man charged with backing that up, and the evidence so far suggests they are in with a great chance.

Their seven friendlies saw them pick up five victories and score a total of 18 goals, meaning they are in fine fettle heading into their league opener at Hebburn Town on Saturday.

And the manager admits he has been delighted with what he has seen.

“Pre-season’s been really good – the lads are looking fit and strong and everybody’s chomping at the bit,” he said.

“We’ve played some fantastic teams over pre-season and we thank them all for coming down. It makes it really enjoyable to see our lads go toe-to-toe against them.

“The lads have done really well and it’s made it difficult for me to pick a team.”

One position that does look to be locked in is the central attacking role, with new signing Ntumba Massanka appearing to have made a decisive grab for the number nine shirt.

Replacing the goals of last season’s top scorer Mo Touray, who has left to join National League North side Chorley, was always going to be a tough ask but with six goals netted in pre-season, Massanka has made a good start to life in WA2.

As for how the rest of the team looks, however, there are spots up for grabs all over the pitch and Duffy insists he will need everyone – especially those who are not fortunate enough to be picked for the trip to the north east – to be ready.

“I mentioned to the lads that every time they go out there, I want them to make a statement that they want to be in the team,” he said.

“It is going to be really tough to pick a team, but it’s a squad game.

“The team that starts the season won’t be the team at Christmas, and then the team at Christmas won’t be the team that finishes the season.

“Everyone’s just got to buy into it and we’re trying to build that real togetherness.”

Rylands’ first competitive home game of the season is on Tuesday when Ashton United visit Gorsey Lane.