Leek Town know that they could have been handed a tougher fixture to kick start the 2022/23 campaign.
Neil Baker takes his side to Merseyside to face Bootle on day one of the new Northern Premier League West season. The Bucks finished last season in 7th place some 12 points behind Marine, who took the final playoff spot.
It could have been a lot worse for the Blues with the likes of Workington, Witton Albion, Runcorn Linnets and Clitheroe all still in the division and expected to do well this season.
However, despite all this, defender Josh Ryder told Moorlands Radio that it will still be a tough test and that he and his teammates will have to be focused to secure all three points.
