SOUTHEND & EMT skipper Joe Robbins insists his side cannot wait to start the SNEL Premier League season this weekend.

Southend were promoted from Division One on the final day of the previous campaign.

And Robbins is now eager for Southend to test themselves at a higher level.

“There’s huge excitement among the team and the club as a whole as we go into life in the Premier League,” said Robbins.

“We’re looking forward to the challenges ahead but we are under no illusions as to how hard the task is ahead of us.

“It’s a completely different format of cricket for us with the all day games, and the first and most important aim of the season is to stay up.

“Every promotion-winning captain will say the same, but I honestly believe with the young talent we have there’s no reason why we cannot compete and try to establish ourselves as a Premier League club.”

Southend have added Adam Rendall from Old Southendian & Southchurch since the end of last season and have also brought in Harry Ridgewell as their overseas player from Australia.

Robbins has high hopes for them both but believes Southend will be in for the toughest possible start to the season this weekend as they head to last season’s champions Wanstead & Snaresbrook.

“Saturday’s game is a real baptism of fire for us,” said Robbins.

“There’s no harder introduction than playing last year’s champions but, for me, it’s the perfect game as we get straight stuck into it.

“Everybody will be expecting us to lose heavily, so it’s up to us to prove to people, and more importantly ourselves, that we belong in this league, “We are here on merit and we can compete with the very best.”

The Division One campaign also gets underway this weekend with Hadleigh & Thundersley at home to Buckhurst Hill.

Hadleigh avoided relegation on the final day of last season and new captain Richard Revell is excited to get underway.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead as my first season as captain,” said Revell.

“We managed to keep all of our players from last year, which was important for us and have also taken on a few new recruits which has strengthened our squad as a whole.

“The first division has always been a competitive league but I believe we have the ability to push hard and compete for promotion.”

Billericay, who won promotion from Division Two last season, host Orsett & Thurrock.