CHURCH and Oswaldtwistle are looking for Greg Mail to deliver some divine inspiration this season.

Their Australian pro for 2003 is creating a buzz of excitement at the club ahead of the new Lancashire League campaign, and he doesn't even arrive in the country until April 15.

But what else would you expect when you're about to welcome the man who opened the batting in the all-star New South Wales Pura Cup-winning side?

In fact, it's the batsman that Church are banking on to make an impact in the wake of the departure of last year's import from Down Under, Mark Higgs.

He was their top runs scorer in the 2002 Lancashire League with an average of 54.83 and also took 30 wickets, but has now joined a club side in Surrey.

However, he is unlikely to be missed at Blackburn Road, where they expect Mail to be a major force in a squad hoping to improve on last season's 12th place.

A greater source of encouragement came in the Worsley Cup, as they reached the final but lost to Ramsbottom, and they also made the last four of the Inter League Cup.

Chairman Don Holt said: "I'm hoping we'll carry on from where we left off last year. We got to the Worsley Cup final, which was an extraordinary achievement for a club like us, but I hope we can get a better league position this time.

"We'll be bringing some more youngsters through, which did us a world of good last year."

During that cup run, Church managed to knock out eventual league champions Bacup, proving that they should have perhaps achieved a higher league position.

Press officer Jack Houldsworth said: "It proved that on our day we can beat anybody.

"But there were half a dozen games last year that we should have won and we threw away when we were batting. We have to look for more consistency this season."

Also new to the club is Chris Maudsley from Ribblesdale League side Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, while second team captain and veteran Ken Fergusson has joined the Lancashire League umpires list.

His son, Craig, is one of a number of players Church will be looking to build on Mail's predicted opening bursts, both with the bat and the ball.

Mark Aspin and first team captain Philip Sykes hit more than 500 runs each last year to finish high up the averages.

In the bowling table, Fergusson was in the top 25 of the averages, but Church's main weapon will again be Nicholas Westwell, who took 50 victims last year.

Mail will provide support as a change bowler and Thomas O'Neill will also lend his arm to the attack following his 33 league wickets in 2002.

As for off the pitch developments, Houldsworh reckons Church will be providing the perfect Sunday service.

"We are better equipped financially, and with the standard of our wicket and facilities, than we ever have been," he said.

Church start the season at home to Lowerhouse on April 20.