KENDAL RUFC face a tough assignment first up when opening their National League Division 3 North season at home to Halifax at Mint Bridge (3pm kick-off).

But Kendal coach Neil Rollings says his squad is well-prepared to face the Yorkshire side, who only missed out on promotion last term when beaten in the play-offs, Rollings said: "It is the first time we are at our fullest strength since we began training.

"Whilst the fact that Halifax beat Wharfedale 25-14 last week is not the best of omens, I think the first game is the best time to play them to get a result, especially at home, where we must be in with a chance of beating anyone."

Kendal took a squad missing half a dozen first-teamers to Wharfedale and lost 43-14, while there was an emphatic 64-7 win over Penrith in an earlier warm-up match.

"We chose not play to play last Saturday and had a training session instead and as a result any slight injury recoveries have been made, " added the coach.

New Zealand full back Simon Mulholland starts after missing both pre-season run-outs with a knock to a knee picked up while playing on the Euorpean sevens circuit during the summer.

Free-running Mulholland made his presence felt in the side in the second half of the season.

Of considerable interest will be how the close-season new recuit Phil Graham, the ex-Manchester and Waterloo man, slots in alongside Martin Armstrong in the centre, where both men look to have their own distinctive style and strengths.

Another newcomer is Jon Ladell has followed his brother Luke from Kirkby Lonsdale, and both wingers have caught the eye by scoring tries wide out in the build-up.

Stand-off Dan Stephens also likes to run at opponents and has a good understanding with scrum-half Mark Airey formed over several seasons.

Rollings said: "We are happy about the potential of the strongest back line that has been put together at Kendal in recent times.

"We have got genuine game- breakers in the side and there is plenty of excitement about it."

Kendal will miss prop Billy Coxon, who is still out with a heart problem, in the pack.

New captain Mike Capstick and other experienced heads Richard Harryman and Adrian Bateson will carry a lot of expectation to set the tone.

Duncan Green is firmly established at hooker and there is likely to be plenty of action in the loose from the the likes of Dan Bowman supported by a mobile second-row.

Team: S. Mulholland, J. Ladell, M. Armstrong, P. Graham, L. Ladell, D. Stephens, M. Airey, D. Bowles, D. Green, R. Harryman, A. Hudson, M. Capstick (capt), M. Bowman, D.

Bowman, A. Bateson. Replacements: J. Nicholson, D. Preston, L. Hayton, C. Park.

n Kendal have been drawn at home to Aston Old Edwardians or Longton in the first round of the Powergen Cup to be played on September 18.