TAUNTON Town are set for plenty of new challenges this season as they prepare for their Southern League Premier adventure.

Here at the County Gazette we will be profiling each opponent ahead of their match with the Peacocks - first up is Staines Town, who visit the Viridor Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

READ MORE: Robinson optimistic ahead of Peacocks' Premier bow

Staines Town

STAINES are one of the sides to transfer across from the Isthmian League as part of the Non-League restructure.

The Swans finished eighth in last season’s Premier Division – but are now under new management.

Barcelona-born Cristian Colas has replaced Johnson Hippolyte as head coach, and is tasked with bringing an attractive style of play to Wheatsheaf Park.

New owners Joe Dixon and Paul Jaszynski want to reach the Football League in the next 10 years.

Pre-season has seen the Swans suffer heavy defeats to QPR and Slough Town, but they beat London Colney 6-3, with Harry Stowe scoring a hat-trick.

They have also re-signed striker Pat Cox, a fans’ favourite who had departed for Farnborough Town.

Staines have twice reached the second round proper of the FA Cup, knocking out Stockport County in the first round in 2007/08 before being beaten by Peterborough United.

Two seasons later they repeated the trick, winning at Shrewsbury Town before taking Millwall to a replay in the second round.

Notable former Staines Town players include Joe Aribo, currently a first-team regular at Charlton Athletic, and David Wheeler, who this week joined Portsmouth on loan from QPR and enjoyed a hugely productive spell with Exeter City - who he joined as a trialist from Staines - between 2013 and 2017.

Taunton manager Leigh Robinson said: “It’s only the second time in my six years here that we’ve started with a home game, so it’s a bit unusual for us.

“We have to respect Staines, though, as it’s a bit of a trip into the unknown.”