DEAN KEATES says his squad will "get pushed to the max" during the opening month of the season but the Reds' boss will have the players to cope with a demanding schedule.

Wrexham kick-off the 2020-21 National League campaign with a clash against Boreham Wood at The Racecourse on Saturday October 3.

It is the first of eight games - seven in the league and an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie - before the end of the month but Keates, who still wants to add to the 20 players he currently has in the ranks, can handle the fixture programme.

"The squad is going to get pushed to the max," said Keates.

"I am happy with where I am at with the squad, although there will be a few more additions and if I get the last few in that I want, I will be more than happy and there will be a lot of flexibility in the group.

"We can rotate. It is going to be tough mentally and physically so we have to make sure whoever goes out there will be as fresh as they can be, and they recover right between games."

Keates believes players will relish the games coming thick and fast.

"It is a quick turnover but as a player, I enjoyed playing more than I ever did training," added Keates.

After playing host to Boreham Wood, who secured a play-off spot last season, Wrexham head to Solihull Moors three days later and are also away at Yeovil the following Saturday.

Keates believes Wrexham have been handed a tough start to their 13th season in non-league.

"It's a home game against Boreham Wood and all being well when we get to kick-off, we can get a few thousand fans into the stadium," said Keates.

"But it is a tough start. You have got three teams who I have got no doubt come the end of the season will be competing where we want to be at the top end of the table.

"It is the same for everybody, it has been a long time and we are just glad to get going.

"We had the dates a couple of weeks ago and now we have got the teams on the dates so now we can start planning and preparing; we 100 per cent know where we are going to be unless something else major happens with this pandemic."