HEAD coach Will Croker believes Bournemouth can challenge for top spot in National Three South West ahead of today’s opener at Salisbury (3pm).

Lions ended fifth under Croker last term but have brought in the likes of army second-row Dave Bates and Kiwi Toby Kenneally.

Croker told the Daily Echo: “Two very good sides left our league last year in Exmouth and Barnstaple and we feel there is a real opportunity to push on and mount a real challenge.

“There’s a real confidence and a hard-nosed edge to us this year. Some of the guys that came to us from lower-tier clubs have now got a year’s experience behind them and are looking to push on.

“We’ve also brought in a couple of players who have played at a really high level and have knowhow and physicality.”

During the summer, Lions lost the services of Rudi Kochanowski to retirement as well as Jo Gwyther and Sam Bailey.

Discussing the trip to league new boys Salisbury, Croker added: “We don’t really know a huge amount about them. We’re just going to have to rock up and play what’s in front of us.”

Lions: Spikings, Budd, Firetto, Kenneally, Bates, Hennings, Bennett, Manning, Hardcastle, Davies, Roberts, Chislett, Hancox, Everett-Bolter, Sutherland. Replacements: Tarrant, Soden, Bruce.