Fixtures 
| Fully fit Fraserburgh / McKenzie a doubt for Vale and Chiz out |
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A strong contender for the game of the day tag takes place at Bellslea where last season's third and fourth placed teams clash as the curtain comes up on another Highland League season. Home side Fraserburgh were edged out of a top three finish on goal difference after failing to take anything from their final game of the season away at Rothes. However, it was still a successful season for the Broch but manager Charlie Duncan - who celebrated his testimonial last weekend - believes his side will be up against it in their attempts to get off to a flyer. He said: "Deveronvale are a team who we haven't had much luck against and we don't have a very good record against them. They are one of the top teams in the league so I must admit that for us to have finished level with them in the league was good. We had a good run last season but if we can get off to a decent start then it would be handy. If we can get off to a good start then it can be very good but either way, we are just going to get on with it. We have quite a young side and we are quite talented but being talented and winning games are different things altogether." The Broch have new signings Dane Ballard and Gilbert Patterson available to debut after they arrived from Maud and Huntly respectively over the season as Duncan goes into the game with a fully-fit squad. Deveronvale are looking to come out the other side of a transition season that saw them still able to maintain their status as a top three club in the Highland League despite a significant turnover of players. The squad has had the finishing touches applied to it over the last few weeks of pre-season though and co-manager Stuart Glennie feels they are all ready and raring to go. He said: "When you come away with anything away at Fraserburgh, it is not a bad result and this will be no different. The players are dying to get going with the start of the season. The first 20 minutes of the game will always be difficult down there but we came through that last season and got a good result there. We know how difficult it is going to be but they will know it will difficult for them as well so it is a good game to get going with for the first game of the season. "The players are all ready to go. We had a light session on Wednesday to work on some set pieces and go over one or two things and the guys were all raring to go with Saturday's game. You can have too many training sessions and too many friendlies and we all just want to get going with the real stuff now." The Banffers travel without defender Mark Chisholm and reserve goalkeeper Blair Tait as they are both away while new signing Martin Skinner is also out after requiring stitches in an eye injury he sustained in Monday night's friendly at Ellon United. Striker Mike McKenzie is also a major injury doubt and fellow front man Gordon Carstairs is not ready to return from his long term knee injury. Referee: Frank McDermott |
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