BURNLEY team manager Michael Anderson is hoping his side can improve even further on their impressive fourth place Transco Lancashire League finish of last season.

The Turf Moor side travel to Bacup for the opening fixture and Anderson knows they will be the team to beat.

"Bacup, East Lancs and Haslingden are going to be the strong sides this season," he said.

"But we finished fourth last year and we are hoping to improve on that.

"The players are more experienced now but they are still quite a young side.

"But obviously the ability is there."

New professional Pierre Joubert is due to arrive on April 20, just 24 hours before the start of the new season.

"His side in South Africa have reached the final of the four-day competition so he won't finish until Thursday.

"But he is looking forward to it, he is quite excited at the prospect of the new season.

"He has played at Delph so he knows what the conditions will be like. I'm sure we'll need a few sweaters on at Bacup on the first day!"

Burnley have the same squad as for the 2001 season.