HOPES are soaring for another successful season in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League, starting tomorrow, with quality players continuing to arrive, especially into the ECB Premiership and 27 overseas players so far registered.

Nantwich, who won their first premiership title in such thrilling style on the last day of the 2010 season, travel to First Division champions Macclesfield without former New Zealand all-rounder Lou Vincent, now with Sussex, but recall Queensland big-hitter Glen Batticciotto who was such a success in 2009.

Bouyed by the arrivals of Lancashire starlet Jordan Clark and former Trinidad all-rounder Daren Cruikshank, Chester Boughton Hall travel to a much-changed Oulton Park. The Little Budworth club (and Cheshire) have lost ex-Derbyshire stars Ben Spendlove and Nathan Dumelow, but have recalled former favourites Craig Williamson and Danny Leech.

Captained by Lee Dixon after Chris Davies departed to Birkenhead Park, Oxton travel to Alderley Edge and Neston, with new Aussie Luke Pavlinovich in their ranks under the new captaincy of Andy Roberts, host Toft.

Promoted Grappenhall, who have recruited Oulton Park’s Ghuy Emmett and Tony Hurdley and Tom Evans from Widnes, host Urmston.

Widnes’s bid for promotion from the First Division has been boosted by the acquisition of top-ranking Indian all-rounder Narender Singh Negi, who debuts at home to Bramhall under the continuing captaincy of the Ian Spencer.

At Bollington, Irby are boosted by the arrival of veteran Sefton all-rounder Robbie Houghton and Birkenhead Park duo Chris Foran and Carl Ainsworth plus promising New Brighton brothers Liam and Alex Hughes.

Newcomers to the league in Division Two are Stockport – at home to neighbours Stockport Georgians – and Malpas, who go to Timperley under the leadership of Adrian Stubbs.

Relegated Upton are at Brooklands with great things expected of South African all-rounder Armand Strydom, while Warrington host Bredbury with Australian –off spinner Andy Marlet hoping to take advantage of groundsman Paul Agar’s turning pitches.

For the first time second XI premier division fixtures will have panel umpires following a winter upsurge onto the league panel, now 65-strong and one of many examples of the league’s rude good health.

Saturday’s fixtures: ECB Premier League (12.30pm): Alderley Edge v Oxton; Didsbury v Hyde; Grappenhall v Urmston; Macclesfield v Nantwich; Neston v Toft; Oulton Park v Chester Boughton Hall.

First Division (1pm): Bollington v Irby; Cheadle Hulme v Sale; Christleton v Bowdon; Heaton Mersey v Cheadle; Marple v Poynton; Widnes v Bramhall.

Second Division (1pm): Brooklands v Upton; Congleton v Middlewich; Mobberley v Tattenhall; Stockport v Stockport Georgians; Timperley v Malpas; Warrington v Bredbury.