Neil Cugley says competition for places will be hugely increased among his new-look Folkestone Invicta squad this season.

He admits the situation is in sharp contrast to 12 months ago when the side almost picked itself.

Boss Cugley said: “We have got several new faces in the squad and everyone will be chasing the shirts, it’s up to them to show me what they can do and impress.

“It’s all a bit different to last season when things were set down very early on.”

Defender Chris Elliott, one of the newcomers, made a good impression in the 1-0 defeat at Ashford United and is likely to be involved again when Invicta travel to FA Vase runners-up Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

Former Wells midfielder Matt Newman and Josh Vincent are available this weekend, together with Josh Burchell who has been recovering from an ankle problem.

The new Ryman League 2013/14 fixtures, published on Wednesday see Invicta face four Kent derbies in the first month of the campaign, including a home date against Hythe on Bank Holiday Monday.

One disappointment for Cugley is that the Shepway rivals meet so early, but he hopes that will be offset by a bumper gate.