GRAHAM Heathcote has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from as Alty kick off the new Blue Square Premier campaign at Woking tomorrow.
Kevin Street, Chris Denham and Dale Johnson all shook off knocks and came through training unscathed on Thursday night.
The Robins boss is without only Val Owen, who has still not recovered from the knee injury which kept him out at the end of last season.
Owen did not play a part in any of the club’s preseason fixtures and will now undergo a scan next week as he searches for a solution to the problem.
Heathcote is keen to have the hardworking midfielder back in contention but admits he must find fitness soon if he is to make a comeback.
He told SAM Sport: “We’ll see how Val is after he has had a scan.
“I would love him to get fit and if he does, he will be part of my plans. We’ll just have to take it one step at a time.”
Woking have been a bogey team for Alty in recent years, the Robins losing five of their six games against the Cards in the past three seasons.
But Heathcote insists past results will have absolutely no bearing on tomorrow’s game and said his team travel down to Kingfield in confident mood.
“We don’t have a good record there but football’s about ending those kinds of record,” he added.
“We aren’t going with the same group of players we have done year in, year out so past results shouldn’t matter.
“It’s all about building on a good preseason, although it will be against different opposition and the game will be played at a much higher intensity.
“We have to go out and play football and show the nerve to play in all situations. The first game of the season is always a nervy occasion and we have to deal with that.
“Any of the 18 players in the squad could go out there and start for us and we have different attributes but the lads have to go and prove themselves home and away.”
Woking go into the game on the back of a superb result in their final preseason friendly on Tuesday night.
The Cards defeated a Southampton XI 4-0 to put several indifferent performances behind them and also have no injury concerns for the start of the season.
Heathcote is under no illusions about the task that will face his side at Kingfield.
He said: “It’s a difficult first game but we are aware of that and I don’t see why we can’t go out there and get a result.
“In the first game of the season there isn’t a side in the country that won’t be up for it and Woking will look at their record against us, as will most full-time teams, and will fancy their chances.
“We have to try and prove them wrong.”
Heathcote has chosen a new club captain but the decision will only be announced to the players before the game tomorrow.
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Fully fit Squad for tomorrow!
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