The Coles Park club are getting ready for their opening match at step three of the non-league pyramid

Haringey Borough are preparing for their first game in the Bostik Premier this weekend and boss Tom Loizou believes they can be a match for anyone this season.

The issue for the Coles Park club is a lengthy list of injuries picked up either during the past campaign or this summer.

Loizou will hope to have most of his team available for selection and feels if that’s the case, they can cause Bognor Regis Town lots of problems on Saturday.

He said: “If I have a full squad I fancy my chances against anyone, but it is having that and also making sure we peak at the right time for the opener.

“We have had a good pre-season, apart from the ones still carrying injuries, and it is just about peaking at the right time and getting off to a good start now.”

Saturday’s match at Coles Park between Haringey and Bognor is a classic opening-day game where two new boys face each other.

The Rocks were in the National League South last season, but were relegated after finishing bottom, so they will be expected to mount a title tilt this term.

Haringey, on the other hand, are completely new to the division having never competed at this level before.

Loizou’s men won promotion in the Bostik North play-off final in May and are now excited to test themselves at step three of the non-league pyramid.

After hosting Bognor, they will face a trip to Brightlingsea Regent – a side they last faced in the 2016/17 campaign – on Tuesday (August 14).

A trip to Leatherhead concludes Haringey’s opening week in the Bostik Premier and the north Londoners cannot wait to start.

“I would much rather play our first game at home and we are and we are up against Bognor, a side who got relegated last season,” said Loizou.

“They will be looking to bounce back and then we make the trip to Brightlingsea, who we have played in the past, and then we take on Leatherhead (August 18), so they will be all new to us, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Borough head into the season following a busy summer where they were faced several stern tests.

Loizou’s team only lost once to Dulwich Hamlet (3-1) and managed to beat Coggeshall Town (5-2), Cheshunt (2-1), Hendon (3-2), Waltham Abbey (5-0), Barton Rovers (5-2) and Brentwood Town (3-2).

Haringey were held to draws by Royston Town (2-2) and Hanwell Town (1-1) also, but remain full of belief.

“We have had some good games against good opposition,” said Loizou. “We beat Hendon 3-2 and I felt if we a full side out we might have got a result against Dulwich Hamlet.”