TOP eight is the aim for Stourport Swifts manager Dave Titterton in his first full Dr Martens Western Division season in charge.

Swifts finished 17th last season with 10 wins and 11 draws from 42 games, recovering from a poor start which had left them stranded in the bottom two.

Titterton made some important new signings after being appointed last October, like top scorer Richard Ball, former Hereford midfielder John Shirley and centre-back John Newall.

In his first pre-season in charge, he has added the prize signatures of Oldbury goal poacher James Wood and talented Telford youngster Ronnie Sayer.

Ilkeston keeper Lee Evans and Stourbridge wing-back Mark Jones have also linked up with Swifts who have lost Simon Marsh to Evesham and Tim Nicholls to Stourbridge.

Titterton predicted: "We have got a decent little squad who will certainly raise a few eyebrows this season. Everyone needs to be at full throttle though."

New into the division are relegated Halesowen Town and Ilkeston along with promoted Yate who Swifts entertain on Saturday in the first game of the season. The other newcomers are Team Bath.

Titterton is predicting Halesowen, Bromsgrove, Redditch and big-spending Taunton will be vying for the two promotion spots.

But he wants Swifts to finish as high as possible in order to benefit from the pyramid reorganisation scheduled next summer.

In pre-season, Swifts have thrashed lowly Bromyard and Bilston, while also putting together an impressive victory over Stourbridge.

Titterton continued: "We have had an OK pre-season in how we have progressed but there will be lots of fine tuning to do in training before Saturday.

"Our new signings have done well so far and we've got a squad of around 19 players."

One of the key players, Shirley, has a major campaign ahead, according to the Swifts boss.

He added: "John's adjusted to the pace and it will be a big season for him. He knows what is expected of him and he knows the pace of the game and the standard now."

But Titterton, the ex-Wycombe and Hereford full-back, will not be figuring until he is fit with a groin strain restricting his participation in training.