LATCHFORD Albion and Crosfields ARLFC will contest the Stuart Middleton Warrington Cup Final on Saturday.

While Soap have already returned to action in a Challenge Cup first-round defeat, this will be Albion's first competitive fixture of the 2023 season and it will be held at their Victoria Park ground, kick-off 2.30pm.

Despite Crosfields playing three divisions above in National Conference League One, Albion coach Martyn Ellis is relishing the task ahead for his men.

“As a group we are looking forward to the challenge of facing an established Conference side. Rightly so, they will start as favourites, but it is a fantastic test of where we are at coming into the new season," said Ellis, whose side will again feature in the North West Men's League Premier Division this year.

"We had a trial run out at Woolston a couple of weeks ago, when we had five debutants on display, but they have all bought into the processes and values we are installing at the club and I am genuinely excited about seeing them develop throughout the season.

"Alongside that we retained the core of last season's squad, and also have a couple of players available after missing most of 2022 through injury.

"All in all I think we are in a good place as a club, and we hope to start the year positively by putting in a decent performance this weekend."

Soap will be buoyed by their A team defeating Burtonwood Bridge in the Alliance Cup final at the weekend and will be focused on the Hood Lane club kicking off the new season with a silverware double.