SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb is targeting another tilt at making the Southern League Division One South and West play-offs despite admitting that the league is the strongest it has ever been.

The South Marston club, who will begin their campaign with a trip to Didcot Town on Saturday, August 6, will be battling alongside the likes to Hereford and Salisbury – the phoenix clubs risen from the ashes of Hereford United and Salisbury City respectively.

With the former League One side and Conference outfit widely expected to be in a two-horse race for the crown, the Marine boss says that his squad must be looking to fill one of the other three play-off spots available.

“We are aware that the league is going to be the strongest it has been for a long time with those two sides coming in,” said Webb, who took his side to the play-offs for the third time in four years last term.

“We can’t think about them, the play-offs are always our target and we will have another go at trying to achieve that.

“I wouldn’t be here as manager if the aim was to just stay in the league – that is not what I’m about and not what I want my players to be about.”

Marine, who reached the play-offs last term only to be beaten at Taunton Town in the semi-finals, play their first home match of the new campaign on Tuesday, August 9 when AFC Totton visit the Webb’s Wood Stadium.

Their first Saturday home match is four days later when they play host to Barnstaple Town.

The first time Webb’s men will get a taste of the division’s two heavyweights will be on Saturday, October 1 when they make the trip to Steve Claridge’s Salisbury, with the Whites heading to the Webb’s Wood on Saturday, February 18.

Hereford, and their army of fans, will arrive in South Marston on Tuesday, October 25 and Marine will head to Edgar Street on Saturday, February 25.

Marine are also at home on Boxing Day as they entertain North Leigh but they start 2017 with an away day by travelling to Wantage Town on Monday, January 2.

The South Marston side bring the curtain down on their campaign with a trip to Larkhall Athletic on Saturday, April 22.