NATIONWIDE Conference side Altrincham will visit Runcorn during pre-season with two games against West Cheshire League side Runcorn Town.
The first game, on Tuesday July 25, will see the visit of Altrincham's first team and will be the toughest of tests for Town, whose manager Tony Murphy is busy building a squad that can challenge for promotion from Division Two next season.
On Tuesday August 1, the highly-rated Altrincham Youth side will visit to play against Town reserves, who are effectively last season's cup-winning youth team following a club restructure.
Altrincham finished bottom in their first season back in the Conference after having a highly-controversial 18 points deducted but remained in the league due to problems at a number of other clubs.
However they have kept hold of most of their players, and with the addition of several others, will be looking for a more comfortable finish to the coming campaign.
Altrincham Youth finished second in the North West Youth Alliance last season and also who won two cups as well as losing in the final of a third.
They are highly rated across youth team football, with the squad also winning the Cheshire FA District Youth Cup while representing the Altrincham FA.
The restructuring at Town means the club will have no Sunday football in 06-07 with the youth team merging with the reserves to play West Cheshire Division Three football.
Club spokesman Martin Fallon said: 'Towards the end of last season, up to nine youth team players were playing regular West Cheshire League Division Two football, so the decision was made to merge the two teams together and bring all players through en bloc.
'The open-age football of the West Cheshire League should give the players more competitive games instead of some of the easier afternoons they had last season in the under 21 Altrincham League with the team scoring at least eight goals on three occasions.
'With no Sunday football being played, the club can work on getting the playing surface up to a higher standard, with the ground used far less than the 100-plus matches that were played during 2005-06.'
Town will travel to Flint Town United for a friendly on Saturday July 29, ko 3pm.
Other high-profile friendlies are in the pipeline.
Runcorn Town have opened up training ahead of the WCL season, with any new players invited to down on Saturday mornings to Pavilions (11am).
Training switches to midweek once pre-season games start.
