Canterbury Ladies face a tough opening month to the Premier Division hockey season with three away games in their opening four matches.

They travel to Leicester on Saturday, host Trojans the following week, and are then away to Olton & West Warwick and Brooklands Poynton.

The loss of South African Cindy Botha and German Lisa Hapke is a blow to the team but senior player Mel Clewlow (pictured) believes that they have plenty of emerging talent to make up for the departures.

Clewlow said: "We’ve got players like Lucy Hyams and Grace Balsdon, who are junior internationals. They were fringe players last season but they’ll get an opportunity this season and coach Ian Jennings works us hard.

"Last year we won matches because of our fitness levels and this season will be no different. Everyone knows what to expect from last year and we’re quietly confident we can do some damage this season."