SLOUGH Town joint-manager Neil Baker insists that his side will not be lacking in belief when the new National League South season gets under way.

The Rebels will open their campaign with a visit to Arbour Park from Hampton & Richmond Borough, beaten play-off finalists last term, on Saturday, August 4 (3pm).

Slough then face trips to Chippenham Town (August 7, 7.45pm) and Gloucester City (August 11, 3pm), and Baker wants to carry on the momentum from their promotion win last season.

He told the Observer: “It will be good to start the season well to give us impetus momentum.

“If you start well and get a good early position it gives you that extra belief, but we won’t be lacking in belief going into the season.

“Hopefully we can have a relatively good pre-season but I don’t put a lot of emphasis on results because we went unbeaten summer and then lost our first league game.

“I will not put an emphasis on results in pre-season but you do still want to win as many games as you can.”

Looking ahead to their first fixtures in the National League, Baker said: “It will be a tough game but we’re just looking forward to it now and I’m glad it’s at home.

“Everyone wants to be at home on the opening day and we’re grateful for it. I’m really pleased and hopefully we will get a decent crowd in.

“I’m not looking too much into what Hampton & Richmond did last season as they’ll have a brand new team. Their manager has moved to Woking and taken a lot of players with him.

“The new manager has brought in three or four from Hendon. We will have an idea about them and them us because we played Hendon twice in the FA Trophy last season.”

He continued: “We know Chippenham and their pitch will be nice at this point in the season.

“Chippenham are going for it this season so will be up there as one of the favourites. It will be a tough game but another one that we’re looking forward to.

“Gloucester will be pretty similar to last season where they finished strong.

“We don’t know too much about them at the moment but have friends in the area who will watch them during pre-season to give us some idea.”

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