After a seven week break, Dumbarton fans will get a first glimpse at their new look team this Saturday as Hebburn Town make the trip from Tyneside.
Whilst the English non-league side will provide an interesting, and different, test, it will be the new look Sons who most fans will be keen to see in action.
And we’ve taken a look at four things for fans to watch out for as Stevie Farrell’s men look to put last year’s playoff heartbreak behind them.
New signings
It goes without saying that fans always look forward to seeing new signings in action, and this year will be no exception - with nine players joining the Sons during the close season.
Of those nine, three will be starting their second stints at the club; midfielders Callum Wilson (who isn’t expected to return from injury until September), Carlo Pignatiello and Tony Wallace.
Pignatiello, named the club’s Young Player of the Year for the 2021/22 campaign, is probably the most eye-catching addition, having torn up the second year of his contract with Championship Morton to return to part-time football at The Rock.
Capable of playing at right-back, central midfield or right-wing, it will be fascinating to see where Stevie Farrell decides to deploy the former Livingston man.
Equally as fascinating will be where the versatile and aggressive Blair Malcolm plays. He caught the eye at left-back and in midfield for Albion Rovers last season, and could prove the destructive hardman that Sons lacked in the middle of the park.
Centre-halves Sean Crighton and Mark Durnan arrive with more than 900 senior games between them - and will be expected to carry on the good work of Gregor Buchanan, Stuart Carswell and Peter Grant from last season.
At the opposite end of the experience scale, rookie full-back Greig Young earned rave reviews from Raith Rovers fans - and could be the dynamic, attack minded full-back that Sons have craved.
As one of the division’s least creative sides last year, attacking midfielder Jinky Hilton looks like a signing capable of moments of magic. Whilst 21-year-old striker Michael Ruth arrives at the club determined to reignite a career that saw him considered one of the country’s top talents after his debut for Queen’s Park at 16.
A new face with the armband
One of the biggest decisions that faced Stevie Farrell this summer was who took the armband following the departure of club captain Ryan McGeever, and vice-captain Gregor Buchanan.
Gregg Wylde captained the side on a number of times in Buchanan’s absence last season, but is far from the first name on the teamsheet.
Player of the Year Aron Lynas previously skippered Albion Rovers and would’ve be a hugely popular choice with the fans for his all-action style on the park.
However Farrell made the decision to continue with a centre-half as skipper - with new signings Mark Durnan and Sean Crighton named captain and vice-captain respectively.
New skipper Durnan has previously worn the armband at Alloa Athletic, Dundee United and Queen of the South - but will be a full-time club captain for the first time this season.
Crighton, who has captained Stenhousemuir, Airdrieonians and Livingston will serve as his deputy.
Shape
Having dabbled with a change of formation unsuccessfully on just a handful of occasions, boss Stevie Farrell admitted last season that he had a squad that simply wasn’t comfortable in a shape other than a 4-1-4-1.
That proved effective for the first-half of the season, but left the boss struggling to change games when the initial game plan didn’t work.
Expect to see him try out new shapes in the three friendly matches - with fans already wondering if a switch to a more attacking 4-4-2 or a radical change to 4-3-3 could provide a better balance between defensive solidity and attacking prowess.
Farrell now has a squad that provides him with more options; a 4-3-3 with Ross MacLean and Kalvin Orsi flanking Michael Ruth could be an appealing option. Whilst a midfield two of Carlo Pignatiello and Ryan Blair in a 4-4-2 could offer both defensive discipline and a cutting edge.
It’s a headache the boss will be happy to have.
The Pitch
Of course, the style of play Sons are able to use will depend massively on the state of The Rock’s pitch - which has bordered on farcical in recent seasons.
The sand and mud filled surface played a role in the Sons relegation in 2022, whilst it was a factor behind home form that dropped away during February, March and April after almost a calendar year unbeaten in G82.
A prolonged period of dry, scorching weather won’t have been what groundsman Jim Paton would’ve hoped for. But all eyes will be on the park to see if improvements to the surface have been made - especially with another season of groundsharing on the horizon.
