OPTIMISTIC Girvan FC boss Peter Leonard has high hopes his side can hold their own in the Super Premier Division.

But he says they will have to work even harder than last season after they reached the top-flight by winning the Super First Division title for the first time.

They warmed up for the league campaign in great style by winning their opening four games in the Ardagh Glass League Cup to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the season-opening competition.

Now Girvan welcome Arthurlie to Hamilton Park for the first league game of the season on Saturday.

Leonard said: "That's the strongest squad we have had so far on Saturday, we had 17 players available and it was important to make sure we reached the quarter-finals so we could focus on the league game. We have a cup tie against Maybole on Wednesday but will use that to give some of the guys who haven't been playing some game time. We have good options in the squad and will have good competition for places. I expect the likes of Pollok and Kilbirnie could do well in the league and our aim is to finish in the top half of the table. But we will have to sharper and fitter than last season.

"The target is to take all three points against Arthurlie - that would be a good start. We look forward to playing in the Premier Division."