The race for the Mercer League gets underway on Saturday and there are a handful of teams who will be entering the season with genuine hopes of finishing top of the pile come the end of the campaign.

Recent history has shown us that Strathroy Harps, Lisbellaw United and Enniskillen Town have been dominant figures in the league, the three clubs winning the last 13 titles between them with Strathroy and Lisbellaw having won seven of the last eight.

And it would be expected that all three are going to be big contenders for the Mercer Cup again this time around and with Enniskillen Rangers and Tummery also in the hunt it could prove an intriguing season ahead in the battle for honours.

Strathroy have lost manager Seamus Fanthorpe who stepped down at the end of last season after securing a league and cup double.

But new boss Shane Horisk has retained the vast majority of the squad and they will have their eyes set on retaining the league title.

Lisbellaw finished second last year and manager Andy Reilly, who has strengthened his squad over the summer, will be keen for the Drumad based outfit to go one better as they look to win back the crown from the Harps.

Town too will be determined to be challenging and boss Rory Judge has brought in the enigmatic Seamus Quigley as he looks to provide back up to Frank Wallace in the scoring stakes while Nicky Dunbar will add quality to the side.

However, if a team are to break that trios grip on the Mercer Cup then it is widely tipped that it will be Enniskillen Rangers.

The ‘Gers showed just how good they are en route to winning the blue ribband Irish Junior Cup last season and manager Michael Kerr has made no bones about the title being his goal this season. Kerr has added impressive defender Richard Johnston as well as the Keenan bothers Christopher and Jason from the now defunct Enniskillen Santos along with Stephen Chambers from Town and if they can find a consistency and a clinical edge to their performance which was maybe missing in the league last term then they are going to be serious contenders at the business end of the season.

Tummery are another side that cannot be discounted with the signings of Cathal Beacom and Ryan Hanna a sign of manager Benny McElholm’s intent for the season ahead.

Beragh will also feel that they can make a push into contention in the top half of the table while and Irvinestown will also be keen to push on while for a number of clubs mid table will be deemed as job done as they look to further cement their position in the league.

Magheraveely will want to build on their first season in the top flight and a young Killen team will also be looking to stay away from the battle at the bottom.

Indeed, that scrap at the foot could be interesting and like at the top it could also see a number of clubs involved.

Kesh have appointed Nicky Noble as manager as he has signed a dozen new players including the likes of Nathan Cashel from Dergview and Ryan Morris from Ballinamallard.

They could well surprise a few teams and for Noble it is all about staying out of the relegation zone and building from there.

And for the newly promoted sides, Lisnaskea Rovers and Mountjoy United, if they can consolidate by staying in Division One then it would have to be considered a successful campaign.