The Lancashire League season starts this weekend. Here, Lancashire Telegraph Sport looks at Rawtenstall.

Captain: Andrew Payne
Professional: Nathan McCullum (New Zealand)
Last season: 2nd
Ins: Jamie Carter
Outs: John Dawson, Damian Hanson, Peter Wrathmell

Payne: "It's vital that we get off to a good start this time because that is what cost us the title last season.

"We won 10 games on the trot during the second half of last season and normally that would have been good enough to win the league.

"But thanks to our terrible start, it meant that we missed out.

"We don't want to be playing catch-up cricket this season so we'll be looking to get off to a winning start and be in the title chase right from the start.

"The title is wide open again this year and I think there are about 10 clubs who have a chance of winning it.

"But you can't win if you have a poor start.

"We've lost some experienced players but Jamie Carter has come in and Afraz Ali is available after missing most of last season, so that is like signing a new player.

"We are looking forward to having a professional right from the start this time and Nathan comes highly recommended.

"He is a top order batsman and a talented off-spinner.

"If Nathan and Kes (Keith Roscoe) can keep it tight then we have a strong batting line-up to get us the runs."