The Pennine League season gets under way this weekend – without any Huddersfield presence in the Premier Division.

Although Slaithwaite Saracens enjoyed a rock-solid mid-table top-flight campaign last season, the club have taken the tough decision to step down to the Championship Division.

There was a feeling that with several senior players having moved on, the Saracens would struggle to hold their own in the top division and will now compete in the competition below.

Despite their elected ‘relegation’, they remain the highest-ranked Huddersfield side in the Pennine League – with three of the town’s teams ready to do battle in the division below, Championship I.

Lindley Swifts, Newsome Panthers and St Joseph’s are ready to do battle at that level, which means there are some eagerly-awaited derby battles on the horizon.

And while the Saracens will have to wait a week to get cracking, the Championship I trio all open their campaigns tomorrow.

The Panthers start with a home test against Morley Borough, while the Swifts travel to Birkenshaw and Joes visit Brighouse Rangers.

Underbank Rangers are also set to get under way at Stainland Stags in Division II, with Meltham All Blacks visiting Burley Lions in the Fourth Division.