NEW boys Hamilton Parish kick off the season when they visit Devonshire Colts Saturday night at BAA Field looking to make a good first impression to the rest of the league.

The league and cup double winners have been waiting to prove themselves for five years after their last attempt at playing at the highest level ended in failure. Besides playing in the 2004/05 FA Cup final against North Village, the Hot Peppers haven't had anything to write home about in recent memory.

Yet Bermuda and Parish goalkeeper Nigel Burgess believes his team have what it takes to mix it with the big boys in the Premier Division this season.

Burgess also reckons that this time his side are better prepared for the rigours of the top-flight and are more than capable of playing and beating some of the best teams.

And the Parish stopper will get a chance to put his theory to the test on Saturday night when they take on Devonshire Colts in the season's curtain raiser.

"We have been training since June with some 30 players coming out to train on a regular basis, so right now it looks good," said Burgess.

"We have picked up a few experienced players which will strengthen us a little bit, along with our new coach Mark Jennings.

"The team is excited about the upcoming season. We really think that we can challenge with the big teams and it is about proving not only to ourselves but also to the Island that we are capable of competing and winning."

And they will feel that their first match in the Premier Division will be a winnable one against a Devonshire Colts yet to find their stride.

Colts didn't reach the semi finals of the Martonmere Cup, losing to North Village 5-2 and Dandy Town 2-0 with lacklustre performances to secure the bottom spot of their group.

With the first game crucial to both sides, Peppers will be looking to add to Colts' misery.

"Colts have had a slow start to the season with their Martonmere results, and our pre-season went well so we will be looking to get the maximum points out of the game.

"We have played Boulevard and St. David's in our warmup matches, with a draw and win as our results. So we are ready.

"We are confident going into the game as it is a team that we were hoping to start off with when the schedule came out so we will see how it all plays out.

"When it's all said and done, our main goal is to stay up and win the games we are supposed to win.

"You never know there might be a few surprises out there this season."