SAUCHIE Juniors manager Fraser Duncan reckons his players can handle their tag as title favourites as they look to bounce straight back up to the Super League this season.

The Beechwood Park gaffer has rebuilt his squad this summer after the disappointment of relegation

last season and a run of pre-season wins have helped restore confidence in the dressing room as the squad prepare themselves for a new challenge.

Duncan told advertiser sport: “I think it is a totally different situation for us to be in as one of the title favourites this season. We have been battling against the grain in the Super League for the last few seasons so this will be a new challenge for us. We will have a target on our backs now and teams will see us a scalp to take so it is all about how we handle that, but I am confident the boys can handle that pressure. I want them to relish it and go enjoy it. We know this isn't going to be an easy league, but we want to be in the promotion hunt come the end of the season. We will have to work hard to achieve that goal, but the signs are definitely promising and hopefully we can get off to a good start.

“We are doing well at the moment and we are on a winning run in pre-season. We played really well to beat Leith Athletic last Saturday because they are a good side. We then played Cumbernauld Colts from the Lowland League on Monday night and they have had some decent results recently. They ran Stirling Albion close a few weeks ago, so we were delighted to get the win over them as well. I am happy with all the boys and the way they have been going about their business. If we can carry that attitude and application into the new season then we don't have anything to worry about, but it's about finding that consistency now.”

Duncan has been delighted with his new-look side and admits he is impressed the way some of the new boys have hit the ground running at the club.

He said: “We are delighted with some of the new signings. They all seem to have settled in really well and it is just a case of keeping that momentum going now and keep building towards the big kick off. People say that pre-season doesn't matter, but that is not our mentality. We want to go and try to win every game and I think it is like that throughout junior football.

“The wins have certainly been good for our confidence, but the most important thing for us has been the way some of the younger boys have stepped up and taken responsibility. I have asked some of them to step forward and show character and that is exactly what they've done so I can only praise them for that.”

The 32-year-old boss reckons he now has goals right throughout the team and hopes that will be a key factor in their promotion push this season.

Duncan added: “I think we have plenty of goals in us and it seems to be right throughout the team at the moment. We just need to become more of a threat from set plays now and that is something we are working on at the moment. We have Iain Diack and James McAteer firing on all cyclinders all ready. Morgy has been on scoring form and there are plenty of others who can chip in.

“Ryan Millar is looking really sharp in pre-season as well and has came back a totally different player. So we are looking really good when you consider that we have Daz Cummings still to come back in as well and we are also still talking to a few others about signing. We are not too far way at all though and it is just a case of adding the final touches now.”