COPLESTONIANS get their Touchline Sports SIL Senior Division campaign under way tomorrow under no illusions of how tough it will be back in the higher league.

Ian Bristo’s side sealed promotion at the first attempt on the final day of last season, pipping Ipswich Exiles to the Division One title on goal difference, but are fully aware of the difficult challenge facing them this campaign.

Club official Tony Robinson said: “Our priority this season has to be survival. It’s going to be tough as the Senior Division is a very physically intense league, but we have a good young side.

“We’re not really in a position to attract senior players from other clubs, so the vast majority of our squad have progressed through our club system.

“At least eight or nine of the side that will play for us on Saturday will have come through the system in that way.”

The club once again have last year’s top scorer Bruce Rolls, the veteran striker who netted 17 goals in just 13 matches to help Cops secure the title.

Coplestonians play their home games at Woodbridge Town’s Notcutts Park ground and open their season by hosting Achilles, who have former Cops player and manager Gary Bartlett as their assistant.

Robinson added: “We always have good banter with Gary and have a strong relationship with him, so we look forward to meeting up with him again this weekend.

“We know Achilles are one of the stronger sides in the league so it will be a tough game for us to start with.

“I’d also expect teams like Grundisburgh and Ipswich Valley Rangers (formerly Woodbridge Athletic) to be challenging come the end of the season, as they are able to pick off the best players from other clubs.”