OTLEY'S director of rugby Peter Clegg agrees with Wharfedale's rugby chairman Michael Harrison that National League Two North will be stronger next season than in 2016-17.
"I have scanned the fixtures and there are no easy games," said Clegg, whose team finished 11th last season, five points and a place behind their great rivals the Greens.
"Blaydon and Macclesfield, who have come down from National League One, will both be strong.
"Macclesfield have a load of ambition, have invested heavily on their ground and I was surprised that they didn't make a better fist of it last season having gone up as champions of Two North in 2015-16."
Clegg added: "I know very little about Sheffield (promoted from National League Three Midlands via the play-offs), apart from the fact that our former scrum half Stephen Depledge played for them, while Huddersfield are into it in a bigger way.
"It is going to be a very interesting season and, with three or four recruits of our own, we are looking to be a top-six side.
"We have already signed (scrum half) Joe Rowntree from Ilkley."
Ironically, although Harrogate were relegated from National League Two North, there will be five Yorkshire teams in the division next season after Huddersfield and Sheffield were promoted to join Sheffield Tigers, Wharfedale and Otley.
The Cross Greeners will travel to Wharfedale on September 9, with the return fixture on December 23.
Otley host Huddersfield on September 30, Sheffield on December 9 and Sheffield Tigers on February 10, while they visit Tigers on October 21, Huddersfield on January 20 and Sheffield on April 14.
Stourbridge at home on September 2 is Otley's first league fixture of the season, and the return match will end their campaign, play-off permitting, on April 28.
OTLEY
SEPTEMBER
02 Stourbridge H
09 Wharfedale A
16 Chester H
23 Blaydon A
30 Huddersfield H
OCTOBER
07 Leicester Lions A
14 Sedgley Park H
21 Sheffield Tigers A
28 Sale FC H
NOVEMBER
04 South Leicester A
11 Hinckley H
25 Tynedale A
DECEMBER
02 Macclesfield H
09 Sheffield H
16 Luctonians A
23 Wharfedale H
06 Chester A
JANUARY
13 Blaydon H
20 Huddersfield A
27 Leicester Lions H
FEBRUARY
03 Sedgley Park A
10 Sheffield Tigers H
17 Sale FC A
MARCH
03 South Leicester H
10 Hinckley A
24 Tynedale H
APRIL
07 Macclesfield A
14 Sheffield A
21 Luctonians H
28 Stourbridge A
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here