DARWEN captain Mark Friend is relishing his side's Lancashire League debut - at the second time of asking.

The Towers saw their opening match of the season at Rawtenstall last weekend rained off, a fate which also befell the rest of the league matches.

But Friend admits the chance to bowl the first ball of the club's new era on home turf at Birch Hall is an exciting prospect.

He said: "People were excited for the home games away so it will be nice to have our first game of the season at home after the rain last weekend.

"It is an exciting time for the club going to new grounds and we are all looking forward to getting started.

"We don't know too much about Church or what to expect from them but we are concentrating on ourselves and our own game and trying not to worry to much about the other teams.

"We have a challenging start as we are away at Rishton next weekend and our next two games after that are away as well so that makes Sunday's game really important for us.

"We want to get off to a strong a start as possible and see where that takes us. I am sure we will have a good crack at it this season."

Darwen are able to name a full strength side for the season opener which includes South African professional Calvin Savage as well as wicketkeeper batsman Amir Mirza and new signing John Cordingley.

Church will have Usman Tariq as sub professional with Zain Abbas playing in the Pakistan One Day Cup.

The opening day washout means all sides start this weekend on three points.

Defending champions Ramsbottom travel to Lowerhouse in one of the games of the weekend while new boys Clitheroe and Great Harwood have home games against Burnley and East Lancashire respectively.

Rishton are at home to Accrington and will have former professional Ron Nicol standing in for Shaun Von Berg who is away on South Africa duty.

Elsewhere, Haslingden entertain Colne. Rawtenstall visit Nelson and Todmorden host Enfield.

Bacup are without a fixture this weekend.