BRAINTREE Town manager Glen Driver says his team are heading to Bath City on Saturday looking to open their Vanarama National League South campaign with a three-point haul.

Having only taken the Iron helm at the start of June and then built a squad pretty much from scratch, Driver is under no illusion how tough it will be for his team this season.

Bath, along with Billericay Town - who they welcome to Cressing Road on Tuesday - and then Wealdstone - who will visit the following Saturday - represent a testing opening trio of games for Driver's side in their first week of action and he knows how important a strong start can be.

However, he has faith in the group of players he has brought together and feels there is more than enough quality in his squad to do well and said they wouldn't be head to the West Country to just "make the numbers up".

"It is very important to make a good start," said Driver.

"The one thing you don't want is to get stuffed by Bath, Billericay and Wealdstone.

"The confidence of the boys will be knocked and it would be a hard task to pick them up, but I'm confident that won't happen.

"What we won't be doing is looking for excuses.

"We'll have a long journey to Bath on Saturday and will make sure that we rest up well on the way so we can hit the ground running.

"That is what is important.

"We just have to remember that we are not playing Real Madrid, we're not playing Barcelona; we are going up against Bath City.

"We are against a team who are at this level for a reason and that's what we will say to our lads.

"I just look at the ability in our camp and that fills me with confidence. "What we have to do is make sure we all come to the party at the same time.

"I believe we will take three points from Bath.

"I'm going there to win a game of football because we're not going to make the numbers up.

"One thing you won't see from my team is any negativity or parking of the bus to try to nick a point, we're going to compete in this league.

"If the boys listen to what we are saying, then we will be alright."

Driver's only injury concern for the season's opener is full-back Harry Osbourne, who felt his hamstring tighten ahead of the pre-season game against King's Lynn Town last weekend.

The Iron boss said: "Harry Osbourne has a hamstring problem after he pulled up in the warm-up against King's Lynn.

"He would have been a definite starter at Bath but he'll be out."

While he knows the Iron may not have the financial clout of some clubs in the National League South, Driver said they did have certain strengths at their disposal and knew they could prosper if they made good use of them.

And the Braintree boss pointed to another footballing story of a side triumphing against better resourced rivals.

"I always take confidence in what Leicester City achieved in winning the Premier League," he added.

"They had one of the smallest budgets, but they won it with togetherness, hard work and a great changing room and we have that.

"We know we will create chances if we work hard and there has to be that togetherness so that if a player is left out, there are no long faces in the dressing room and they will make sure they support the boys who are in. "That is where the togetherness comes from.

"We said to the lads that they are all here on merit.

"I could have gone out and brought in another 100 players, but our lads are here because we wanted them to be here.

"We have to give them licence to enjoy their football, but we have to graft hard to have the right to do that."