Lie travel to Meadow Park this Saturday to take on Stevie Rankin’s Irvine Meadow for their first game of the season.

Downs admits it is a hard way to start the campaign, but that he wouldn’t want it any other way.

He told Barrhead Sport: “We had a good end to the Sectional Cup with a win, though we are a bit disappointed not to have progressed beyond the group stages.

“The boys set their standards high in the match with Pollok but we won’t deny that they slipped in the following games.

“It has to be said we have never really had a settled squad throughout the competition and I have no doubts that we will improve once we know our best line-up.

“Irvine Meadow is a difficult game to start with, but I think it is a great fixture to kick things off.

“We have got to be positive and I believe we have a squad capable of going there and coming away with three points.

“Irvine Meadow are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the league and they have a great squad to call upon. But we can look towards the win in the semi-final of the cup last year as motivation.” Arthurlie avoided the relegation playoffs by the skin of their teeth last time out — something Downs is keen to avoid.

Without setting himself any targets, he admits he wants to see an improvement from his side following a summer of rebuilding.

Downs added: “We ended the season on a high with the cup win but the obviously it was close to us being relegated.

“I think we have a squad capable of challenging and we are well placed to give it a good shot this year.

“We have looked to strengthen and I think we have achieved that, now we need to focus on the park and the season, and hopefully we push up the table.”