Glentoran Women boss Diarmuid O'Carroll hopes his players hit the ground running in this season's Danske Bank Women's Premiership.
The Glens kick off their campaign against Comber on Wednesday night.
O'Carroll - who was named as the Oval club's women's manager back in February - watched his side warm up with a commanding win over Belfast Celtic last week.
He hopes that intensity and clinical streak is a sign of things to come from his hungry squad.
"I am really enjoying it," the former striker said.
"I managed the Crues three years ago for a season-and-a-half and I learned so much from that experience.
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"There is a lot of ability in this Glentoran team. They won the Irish Cup last season, and we have added some new faces during the break.
"There is a nice blend of senior players with international experience, and young players learning their trade.
"So hopefully we can hit the ground running on Wednesday night against Comber and push on from there."
Reflecting on his side's Co Antrim Cup win over Belfast Celtic, O'Carroll said: "Listen, it is never nice seeing any team lose so heavily.
"But from my perspective as Glentoran coach it was good seeing the players keep up their high intensity throughout the whole game.
"I wanted that, to help build up fitness. And they were ruthless in front of goal as well.
"We played a male team the week before and we lost 9-1. It is one of those things in football, you have to learn from every experience - positive or negative."
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Linfield Ladies remain the team to beat this season, despite losing out to Cliftonville Ladies in the County Antrim Cup on Monday night.
"They will be looking to win every competition they enter," O'Carroll said.
"They won the league last season and will be very tough to beat. But every game is going to be tough in the Premiership.
"We are under no illusions going into this new campaign. It is a tough league."
Wednesday's fixtures (all 8pm)
- Crusaders vs Derry City
- Glentoran vs Comber
- Linfield vs Sion Swifts
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