Banks o’ Dee manager Jamie Watt reckons Saturday’s clash with Brora Rangers will be a true test of our ability to compete at the top end of the Breedon Highland League this season.

We make the long trek to Dudgeon Park in a confident mood after two draws and a victory so far in what is our first campaign competing at this level.

Boss Jamie, however, believes taking on The Cattachs - the current table leaders and four times Highland League champions - on their own patch will give a clearer picture of how we match up to the very best the division has to offer.

Jamie said: “There aren’t many tougher tests in the Highland League than having to go to Brora.

“Every week will be a learning experience for a lot of our lads because it’s their first experience of Highland League football.

“Brora will be one of the biggest challenges they face because they have always been there or there abouts in the race for the title for a number of years now.

“I know from my own playing days just how tough it is against them, particularly up at Dudgeon Park.

“We will need to be at it from the first minute or we could be in for a rude awakening.

“We are looking forward to it as well though because it’s a great occasion for our club.

“These are the sort of big games that we are delighted to take on because we want to be stretched, we want to see how good a squad we have.

“It will be very tough because we are still finding our feet a bit at this level.

“But the boys are buzzing and can’t wait for the opportunity to get out there and compete with all of the top sides, not just Brora.”

Jamie is pleased to be heading north having already secured our first win at Highland level, 5-2 against Huntly at Spain Park last weekend.

“Not recording that first win had been weighing on the minds of the players and it even showed in the game against Huntly,” said Jamie.

“We made heavy work of it because they were understandably feeling a wee bit of extra pressure.

“Having said that, we created a lot of scoring opportunities so there was no doubt we deserved to take all three points.

“We were looking a bit nervous when it was still 3-2, but we then made a couple of tactical changes and we looked far more comfortable after that.

“We got a stronger grip in midfield and we could have won by more by the end.

“That win was huge for us because we are new to the league.

“The boys can also take encouragement from the draws against Nairn and Inverurie Locos, who are also well established Highland sides, because we could easily have won both of those too.

“It’s now a case of going to Brora to see if we can, at the very least, continue our unbeaten start, then take things from there.”

Dee are boosted by the return of experienced duo Neil Gauld and Paul Lawson, who had been sidelined by injuries. Defender Ally Stark is also fit again, while Dean Lawrie is back in the squad after a spell working offshore.