AFTER almost four months without competitive football, action returns to Christie Park and Giant Axe next week as new look Morecambe and Lancaster City sides bid for promotion.

The Shrimps begin their campaign with the long trip to Margate, and have several long-term injury worries ahead of the season opener.

Dave Perkins, Jim Bentley and Robbie Talbot are all expected to be on the sidelines for several weeks.

Perkins and Bentley could be out for up to two months, while Talbot now needs an operation and may end up out for the rest of the year.

Jim Harvey has yet to agree a deal with any of the numerous triallists, including experienced football league defenders, Keith Hill, Colin Woodthorpe and Andy Woodward, who made pre-season appearances for the club.

Former Southport winger, Lee Elam, has also played in pre-season.

On Tuesday night, Halifax Town are the first visitors of the season to Christie Park.

The newly relegated Yorkshire outfit have a new look squad after almost folding at the end of last season.

Lancaster City can look forward to their game against Blyth Spartans with their long-term injury worries being cleared up.

Leading scorer, Andy Whittaker, is expected to partner Michael Yates up front.

The former Bamber Bridge man and the ex-Liverpool trainee will be looking forward to getting on the end of a few crosses from new man, Graeme Atkinson.

City's season continues with a game at Lancashire rivals, Burscough, on Tuesday night.

The bookies rate Morecambe as a 16 to 1 shot for the title, with Yeovil Town 3 to 1 favourites, followed by Dagenham and Redbridge at 9 to 2 and Mark Wright's new look Chester City at 5 to 1.

Lancaster City are fourth favourites in a 'wide open' Unibond league field.

City are a 13 to 2 shot, with joint favourites Stalybridge Celtic and Vauxhall Motors at 5 to 1 and Worksop Town at 6 to 1.