IT WILL be a familiar-looking Otley side who, a week later than expected, start their bid for a third successive Aire-Wharfe League championship at Collingham.

While most clubs have been ringing the changes with a number of new signings, Otley have made just one addition to the squad which pipped Beckwithshaw by seven points in a final-match showdown last season, Chris Thompson joining from Bradford & Bingley.

The fixture gods have not looked too kindly on Pool’s return to the top flight after just one season.

Their opener should have been against the champions but as those matches were postponed because of the weather, they will start against the runners-up.

Four members of the promotion-winning team, including captain Ben Platt, have moved on.

Charlie Bell will lead the team, which includes player-coach Mark Gilliver, who has signed from Horsforth, and returning overseas star Jake Zsilinszky.

After back-to-back promotions, Horsforth start life in Division One with a trip to North Leeds.

As well as Gilliver, they have lost Mahir Ali to Tong Park Esholt, but made two big signings in Charlie Swallow from Ben Rhydding and Siddhant Adhatrao, who impressed as Thackley’s overseas player last season.

Burley have been one of the busiest clubs in the winter, bringing in no fewer than six new faces, including Abbas Ahmed from Spen Victoria.

They start their bid for a first title since 2010 with a trip to Rawdon, whose new faces include Ahmad Raja from Undercliffe.

Steeton, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, are going without an overseas player, and captain Stephen Pearson will also be without stalwarts Jonathan Best, who has moved away, and Neil Spragg, who has retired, when they entertain Bilton.

Ilkley, who have been hit by floods and break-ins during the winter, welcome Mike Sant from Burley and Alex Bell from Guiseley for a tough opening match against highly-fancied Kirkstall Educational.

In Division Two, Guiseley will hope to emulate Pool’s one-season bounce back.

Their signings include Richard Nichols, who has moved from Skipton as player-coach, and Johnny Baines from Baildon.

Guiseley start at Harden, where skipper Paul Quinlan will hope to steer his side away from the tenth spot they have filled in the last two years.

With Tom Smallwood leaving for Olicanian, Laurie O’Connor takes on the captaincy at newly-promoted Addingham, who have high hopes of hard-hitting Kiwi Ted Haggas.

They travel to Knaresborough, who are keen to make an impressive showing in their final year in the league.

Barrie McCormick, who has been a consistent performer in a struggling Alwoodley side, has moved to Calverley as they start their campaign in the second flight, after a two-year absence, at Adel.

Kervon Christmas returns as overseas player at Ben Rhydding, where Robbie Miller takes over the captaincy from his brother Alex.

They have a tough start against Colton, who have inched closer to promotion in each of the last three years.

After another winter of many changes at Thackley, including all-rounder Amer Ayoub signing from Saltaire, they take on newly-relegated Follifoot, while Skipton face Illingworth and will be looking for inspiration from South African Pieter Coetzer in their promotion bid.

Green Lane will be hoping for the proverbial ‘level playing field’ as they begin life in Division Three at home to Alwoodley.

Two seasons ago the change in points system denied them promotion to the top flight, and last season a mix up over an ineligible player saw them lose so many points that they were relegated.

Tong Park Esholt also came down and they have made a number of changes ahead of the trip to Hall Park, including the arrival of consistent performer Ali.

Park, meanwhile, have made several highly-rated signings, including Mark McEneaney from Beckwithshaw, Josh Hobson from Rawdon and Sam Dobson, who has returned from Kirkstall.

Silsden finished bottom of the heap last season but look much stronger going into their first match against Upper Wharfedale following the return after six years of Chris Meehan, the arrival of Australian Shaun Brentnall and the hope that Majid Inayat and Manley Du Preez will be available more often this time round.

Australian Scott Sanderson is back with Olicanian, who just missed out on promotion last season and start with a trip to Bardsey.

Andrew Clarke has taken over the Bolton Villas captaincy from Joe Lawrence, who has left the area.

Villas are at home to the newly renamed Leeds Modernians.

Menston also have a new captain, David Blackburn assuming the role after Charlie Parker’s move to Pudsey St Lawrence as they face New Rover.