Enniskillen Skins will kick off the new rugby season this weekend as they open their campaign with a Junior Cup clash against Lurgan on Saturday.

Head coach Alastair Keys has again taken the reins for the upcoming season as his side look to build on last year’s achievements.

Skins have played two pre-season games ahead of the upcoming season. They travelled over to Scotland to face Dundee at Alloway Place at the start of the month before facing Dublin side Suttonians at home last weekend.

Boss Keys says it’s difficult to tell what stage Enniskillen are at, but Saturday’s contest will tell them a lot: “We’ve only had the one game, we went over to Dundee there and the seconds played Glenrothes, a team down in Fife, both games were played in Dundee.

"It’s hard to know (where we are at), we won that game and they were a wee bit understrength, but it’s hard to read too much into it, it was a good trip away and certainly the boys played very well.

"We were pleased with how they played but there will be harder games ahead I suppose.”

Enniskillen face a stern test in the form of a talented Lurgan side who will hope to bring the confidence they gained from promotion last season into the upcoming campaign.

When asked about beginning the new season, Keys said: “I think now the lads are just eager to get going again.

"We play Lurgan in the round robin of the Junior Cup, so, it will be interesting, they won qualifying too last year, they were in the league below us and got promoted and they are obviously on a bit of a high from that I would think, so, we are expecting a tough game.”

Keys side will start the season at almost full strength as they look to hit the ground running.

“We had a lad missing, just a rib injury, but at the moment, we have one or two lads kind of with long-term injuries, but we haven’t had anybody added to it recently.

"So, it’s a reasonably full-strength side,” added Keys.

Skins just missed out on top spot in the league last year as they finished, just one point, behind Ballyclare.

They will open their league campaign at home to Cooke as they look to go a step further than last year.

“Obviously last year we just missed out on the league, we’ll obviously be targeting that and, you know, I guess we want to play any game we play,” Keys continued.

“Any of the competitions we are in, we’ll be looking to go far in them.”

Keys took over as Director of Rugby at the start of last season and says it’s a real he’s enjoying.

His sons Angus, Henry, Eddie and Connor are all involved with the latter resuming his role as backs coach this year. “No, it’s fine, I enjoyed it,” said Keys about taking the team last term.

“There’s a good energy about the squad. It’s a young squad and obviously, four of my own lads are involved in it, with Connor coaching and the other three lads playing.

"I know most of the guys from coaching them up through the years and up through school. I’m enjoying it at the moment.”