Lytham skipper Matt Taaffe reckons the barest of margins could make the difference in the Division One promotion race this year.
His side have been going through a “hectic” pre-season schedule in an effort to give themselves the edge.
It’s part of a noticeable shift towards taking fitness seriously across many clubs in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition - and Taaffe hopes to reap the benefits come summer.
He said: “There’s a lot more lads in the league these days that take pride in their fitness, and that sort of rubs off on other players.
“The lads have really benefited from it, morale is very good and we’re fully booked up most weeks.”
Premier Division champions as recently as 2012, Lytham slipped down the table and finished bottom in 2019.
They narrowly missed out on an immediate return, falling just 20 points short of Birkenhead Park and 28 behind champions Newton-le-Willows.
With two big clubs making the drop this time - Sefton Park look stronger on paper than last year, while Firwood Bootle will be much-changed but still strong - Taaffe is determined to leave nothing to chance.
He said: “It was our first year in Division One last year and I was shocked at how tight it was.
“I’d done my research but from first-hand experience it was exceptional.
“The last 1% can make all the difference - that’s why we finished third and got pipped by Birkenhead on that last day.
“We’re putting all our focus into getting back into the Premier League.
“If I weren’t confident, I wouldn’t be doing the job - but we still have to play good cricket, we still have to build partnerships, we still have to be that 1% better than your opposite number.
“I think it’s going to be tougher than last year, but we’ve had a taste of it now and we’re on a good level.”
They’ll have to manage without Afghan left-arm spinner Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, who took 85 wickets in the league last year at a scarcely credible average of 6.67. From June 26 onwards, he played 13 games and took 12 five-fors - in the other match, he only bowled one over.
He’ll be missed, safe to say - but in his place comes Akash Vasisht, an all-rounder from Himachal Pradesh, who looks “special” in the nets. Former county seamer Toby Lester returns after a year at Bootle.
Lytham’s highest-profile member, Lancashire’s Steven Croft, will be available when his county allows - even if that’s not often, he’s already answered the call of duty from his captain over the winter.
“We’re on Warzone on the PlayStation most nights,” said Taaffe. “But the other lads have really been benefiting from having him around.
“He’s one of the nicest guys in cricket - he’s been brilliant.”
