TITLE contenders Worcester Nomads and Pershore go head-to-head on the opening day of the new Worcestershire League Division One season.

Both were in the mix for promotion last season, Pershore finishing runners-up to champions Worcester and with Nomads third.

But with both also having graced the Birmingham League in recent years — Nomads in 2013 and Pershore in 2010 — getting a good start in a quest for a possible return will be paramount in Saturday’s match at the Bottoms (1pm).

Nomads are once again aiming to be in the mix for the title and have added Royal Grammar School, Worcester, all-rounder James Ridge and University of Worcester bowler Sean Butler to their ranks.

Captain Ben Schiffmann said: “We are obviously looking to go back up to the Birmingham League, it’s the club’s ambition. We are certainly not taking it for granted but we are hoping to finish up somewhere near the top.

“Last year was a bit of a consolidation season after getting relegated. We did pretty well in the end and came third, we got some consistency in the second half of the season and it showed in our results.”

Nomads hope to have an overseas player on board by the weekend but are currently waiting for visa issues to be resolved.

Pershore have decided against that approach this season and are instead staying loyal to the players that saw them push Worcester so close last term.

Captain Chris Ridings said: “We have invested in our youth for the last couple of years so we are going to keep on with that ethos. We find the local talent is as good as we get abroad.

“Each year we get very close and this year hopefully we can go that one step further and win the league but we are just going to enjoy ourselves.”

Droitwich struggled at the wrong end of the table last year but believe they are in better shape to climb the table in 2015.

Australian opening batsman and leg-spinner David Lane, who was previously at the club in 2012, returns, while opening bowler Mark Swanick has joined from Warwickshire League outfit Studley.

Captain Martyn Davies said: “We are really looking to build on the last two years where we have managed to stay up. We know we are good enough to be in that division.

“There has been a lot of emphasis on the younger players and I am looking for players like myself to lead from the front.”

Bromyard will be looking to build on last season’s relegation reprieve, which saw Harvington demoted to Division Four due to their inability to field three teams.

The win-lose format, used in one-day county and international cricket, will again feature but has been switched to cover 11 matches in the middle of the season for Divisions One to Four.

The first six and last five matches of the campaign will revert to the traditional format, under which winning and losing draws can be achieved.

In Divisions Five, Six and Seven, the win-lose format will run from June 6 to August 1.

Following a trial last year, the calling of leg side wides will only apply in Divisions One to Three.

A new addition this year will see any incidents of sledging or poor behaviour addressed at a post-match meeting between captains and umpires.