GLENN CHAMBERS insists there is a “nervous anticipation” as an “excited” Pontblyddyn gear up for their return to the top-flight.

The Alder Meadow outfit have spent the last two seasons in Division One regrouping and rebuilding in order to come back stronger.

Having won Division One, Pontblyddyn start life back in the top-tier at Northop, who produced the blueprint for promoted teams as they finished fifth on their return to the Premier Division last year.

Captain Chambers said: “There is a nervous anticipation after two years away from the Premier Division. We were relegated on the last ball of the last game of the 2016 season and it’s taken us two years to shake the shackles of that off.

“We are excited about being back in the Premier Division. We are all really, really looking forward to it.”

Pontblyddyn have a new electronic scoreboard and a shirt sponsor as the off-field investment mirrors the on-field success.

Youngsters James Griffiths and James Hughes impressed in the second-tier, while Ali Roberts, Ben Mason and Chris Moss will be tasked with impressing as the senior players continue to take a backseat.

“People of a certain age will be doing the donkey work,” said Chambers. “The likes of myself, Rhys Jones and Mark Neath will be allowing the younger lads to shine. We proved last year that we’ve got a good group of young lads, who took their chance to shine.”

Northop are being spoken about as potential title challengers, but they must first overcome a 15-point penalty for their part in the infamous ‘fight’ with St Asaph at the end of last season.

Team manager Dale Harley said: “We’ve got a strong side. The target is to overhaul the 15 points and then get as high in the table as possible.”

Gareth Williams will captain Northop with Ammar Mahmood, formerly of Northop Hall, signing up and Alex Gill returning.

“We are looking forward to the season, and we’ve got a great game to start with,” added Harley.

Jordan Evans and Mark Poynton are suspended for Northop, who are also without Darren Williams.

Gresford are looking to pick up where they left off at reigning champions Menai Bridge after finishing 2018 with a flourish.

The Wrexham-based side won eight successive matches after the turnaround to secure an seventh placed finish.

New captain Daniel Williams, who replaces the outgoing Chris Ellwood, said: “There should be no reason we can’t aim for the top end of the league. We went on a big run of wins at the end of the season, so we know on our day we can beat anyone.”

Gresford make their way to Menai full of confidence after toppling the title winners by seven wickets on home soil last term.

“Menai have been the most consistent team in recent times, they’ve got such a good squad of players, and some real performers in this league,” said Williams. “We do have a knack of beating them in their backyard though.”

Jack Bunkell and Chris Mullock miss out for Gresford, who have Alex Ellwood available.

Brymbo and Connah’s Quay will be looking to put difficult off-seasons behind them when the action gets underway.

James Claybrook’s Brymbo have been hit by player departures as they attempted to build on last year’s second-placed finish, while Martin Burger’s Quay have found recruitment tough as the Flintshire outfit looked to strengthen in order to prevent another season of battling the drop.

Brymbo have seen Ben Roberts and Connor Davies depart for Oswestry, while Joss Roberts and Matthew Turner are expected to miss the season through travelling commitments.

But Brymbo do have strength in-depth, and despite the quartet’s absence, Claybrook is confident of a strong campaign.

“The squad have trained hard since January and the lads are well-prepared,” said Claybrook, who takes Brymbo to Bangor on Saturday with Dan Parry doubtful and David Blackwell and Dan Purdie ruled out.

“The club still has a lot of the league’s best players, so we remain positive that we can have a good season and push on from a brilliant campaign last year.”

Quay captain Burger, meanwhile, is braced for a tough season at Central Park.

The loss of overseas ace Matt Redinger, who scored over 750 runs and took 26 wickets, is a huge blow for Quay, who have also seen Darren Leach move on.

And having seen Quay finish just above the drop zone last year, Burger knows there is plenty of hard work to be done to make his side competitive.

“It’s going to be a very tough season, there are no two ways about it,” conceded Burger.

A home clash with newly-promoted Mochdre kicks things off for Quay on Saturday, Burger adding: “They will be trying to come back up stronger and they will want to make a mark.”

Elsewhere, Llandudno host St Asaph and Pwllheli make their way to Denbigh.

In Division One, Bersham host Gwersyllt, Mold entertain Abergele and Carmel tackle Llay, while Llanrwst head to Conwy with a host of teams eyeing the chance to reach the Premier Division next year.

Division Two: Brymbo 2nds v Northop 2nds; Buckley v Corwen; Gresford 2nds v Menai Bridge 2nds; Llay Welfare 2nds v Bangor 2nds; Marchwiel and Wrexham v Halkyn; Mochdre 2nds v Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn.

Division Three: Gwersyllt Park 2nds v Pwllheli 2nds; Hawarden Park 2nds v Buckley 2nds; Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn 2nds v Denbigh 2nds; Pontblyddyn 2nds v Mold 2nds; St Asaph 2nds v Abergele 2nds.

Division Four: Bethesda 2nds v Ruthin 2nds; Halkyn 2nds v Llandudno 2nds; Llangollen v Llanrwst 2nds.