Inverleith’s focus in their indoor programme is to kick-on from last season when they emerged as champions.
The club begin their defence of the Scottish indoor hockey title on Saturday at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth when they face Capital rivals Grange, the current outdoor champions and Division One leaders (outdoors).
Then they square-up to Glasgow side Clydesdale and finish the day against former outdoor champions, Kelburne.
Stuart Neave, Inverleith’s coach, said their focus this is on trying to develop further from where they finished last season.
Kinross-based Neave added: “In my experience, there is always a greater expectation when you are champions and many teams raise their game against you.
“We are fortunate that our squad is more or less the same as last season with a few more players, especially younger ones, developing and pushing for places in the squad.”
Neave conceded that it helps having the experience of 33-year-old, Kirkcaldy-born, former Olympian Stephen Dick in the squad.
He added: “However, we have a number of the players also now have the experience of playing in Europe.
“In addition, Patrick Christie and Ewen Mackie have indoor Scotland caps from last season.
“Three game days are always challenging and each team will provide a different challenge for us whether through style of play or changes in personnel.
“It should certainly give us an indication of where we are at and what needs to be worked on.”
Schedule: 9:15: Inverleith v Grange; 10:10: Kelburne v Clydesdale; 11:05: Grove v Western; 12:00: Dundee Wanderers v Dunfermline; 12:55: Inverleith v Clydesdale; 13:50: Grange v Kelburne; 14:45: Grove v Dunfermline; 15:40: Western v Dundee Wanderers; 16:35: Inverleith v Kelburne (all games at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth).
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