GALA gaffer Steven Noble admits this weekend's opening pre-season friendly will likely catch a few of his players out.

But the Netherdale boss believes the early start will help his team gain their best ever Lowland League campaign.

The Fairydean Rovers host League One fancies Airdrieonians on Saturday just six days after returning from their summer break.

Noble told us: "We will see who is still sharp after the summer break... when you're up against a quality team like Airdrie you get found out.

"A lot of our players have been keeping themselves in shape since the end of last season and we'll have had a week's training ahead of the game.

"It's maybe come a week or two early for us but this is a good early test."

Noble hoped to have completed three or four signings this week to add to the eight players he's retained from last season's squad.

And loan deals are currently being arranged with one or two age-group players from Rangers.

The manager added: "Quite a few trialists will be playing against Airdrie and there will hopefully be two or three new signed players as well.

"I'm happy with the way our squad is shaping up and I'm confident that we can achieve our highest ever finish in the Lowland League with the calibre of player we are attracting."

After finishing fifth in League One last year Airdrie announced during the summer that they would be going full time for 2016/17 in a bid to gain promotion to the Championship.

Eddie Wolecki Black's team face Partick Thistle, Queen of the South and Queen's Park next month in the group stages of the Betfred Cup.

Following Saturday's friendly with the Diamonds, the Fairydean Rovers will play for the Alfie-Conn Memorial Trophy against Heart of Midlothian seven days later.

Conn, who passed away in 2009 was a legendary figure at the Tynecastle club during the 1940s and 50s.

He played in the Hearts teams that won the 1954 League Cup and 1956 Scottish Cup and was part of the club’s League winning squad in 1957/58. He received a Scottish cap against Austria in 1956.

Following a spell with Raith Rovers and a brief sojourn in South Africa he moved to Netherdale in 1960 to become player manager at Gala Fairydean and went onto enjoy great success in the two seasons he spent at the club.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Alfie’s birth in Prestonpans.

Graeme McIver, secretary of Gala Fairydean Rovers, said: “We are honoured that we can play a part in recognising a true giant of the game who had links to both clubs.”

Saturday's match against Airdrieonians kicks off at 3pm.