Fylde have been handed a tough opening month after next season's National Three (North) fixtures were published.

Fylde open their 2008/9 campaign by welcoming newcomers Huddersfield to the Woodlands on September 6.

In a tough opening month they then travel to Leicester Lions before successive matches at the Woodlands against Nuneaton, relegated from National Two, and Loughborough Students, just promoted from Midlands One.

Rugby Lions have been moved across to National Three (South) in order to achieve the numerical balance between the two parallel leagues.

Fylde's director of rugby Mark Nelson said: "The fixtures computer has done us no favours whatever with the September matches.

"The opening game will be the biggest in Huddersfield's history. They will come to the Woodlands and play this famous club as if their lives depended on it.

"Nuneaton have just be relegated from National Two and, as an ambitious club, will setting up their stall for an immediate return.

"And the more or less fulltime and very fit squad which makes up Loughborough Students will relish the big Woodlands pitch and the hard pitches in September to run at us all afternoon. It will be very interesting."

The two biggest attendances in the division out of 182 matches during the season are, year in, year out, between Fylde & Preston Grasshoppers. The game at Lightfoot Green is, like last season, just before Christmas, whilst the return fixture is in early April at the Woodlands.