PEGASUS Juniors will be looking to two new acquisitions to fire them into contention in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

The city club's leading marksman from last year, Cory Hyde, will miss the entire campaign with a knee injury and his strike partner Chris Mortlock is also an injury doubt.

And so the pressure is on arrivals Sam Pearson and Kiea Cowley to fill the void.

"Cory has been a key man for us but Chris has injury problems as well," said boss Chris Hyde.

"To try to replace both of them is a massive task because it was not just the goals they scored.

"It's not just a case of finding good players to replace them because the partnership that they had was fantastic - they have played together for years.

"Their all round play was excellent and I'm not sure they got the credit they deserved - they were taken for granted a bit."

Mortlock was available for Juniors' final Saturday pre-season friendly last weekend and scored twice in the 7-2 win over Cardiff Corinthians.

Pearson was also on target twice with Cowley, Ben Price and Julio DaMata bagging the others.

But, after last season's runners-up spot, boss Hyde is taking nothing for granted.

"There seems to be a bit of a hangover and the boys have not responded that well," he said.

"Perhaps the World Cup has given them their football fix through the summer and they have not come back recharged - we need to hit the ground running against Wolverhapmpton Sporting Community on Saturday."

Hyde has earmarked Sporting Khalsa as the team to watch this season.

"They have made a lot of big signings," he said. "But there will be the usual suspects as well like Wolverhampton Casuals and Shawbury."

Wellington also kick off their Premier Division campaign with a home match, entertaining Dudley Town, before the two county sides meet in a derby clash at Old School Lane next Tuesday.

Kington Town begin their return to regional football with a Division Two visit to Red Star Alma.

Meanwhile, in Division One, Lads Club and Ledbury Town are at home to Shenstone Pathfinders and Penncroft respectively while Bartestree travel to Team Dudley.