KELTY HEARTS boss Thomas Courts says his side are going into Saturday's Lowland League opener in a "positive frame of mind".

The East of Scotland League champions will unfurl their title flag before taking on Dalbeattie Star as they embark on their maiden season in the fifth tier of Scottish football.

Only a year after quitting the junior ranks, the New Central Park club won the division before thrashing South of Scotland League champions Threave Rovers in a two-legged play-off to decide who would win promotion.

Teams like Spartans, Gretna 2008, East Kilbride and East Stirlingshire await for Hearts, who know that winning the league would give them a shot at making the leap to SPFL League Two.

Courts' team concluded their preparations at the weekend with the club's annual summer tournament, in which they defeated junior Super League club Thornton Hibs before thrashing Brora Rangers – who reached the fifth round of last season's Scottish Cup – of the Highland League 4-1.

Speaking to Press Sport, he commented: "We've probably played one more game than we'd have liked but, when the Celtic game came up, it was an opportunity we couldn't turn down.

"We've played senior teams who are part-time, full-time teams and now a Highland League and local regional junior team, so it has ticked all the boxes in terms of challenges for the players.

"We'll go into Saturday in a positive frame of mind. We know that it will be more challenging than last season; Dalbeattie Star have had a positive season and beat Beith, the West Region Super League team, in a friendly. They've had a positive pre-season so we'll be a facing a team in form, but we will have high levels of motivation.

"It's a fantastic platform for the club. The league flag will be unfurled, so it will be a showpiece occasion for the club, and an unknown entity keeps things fresh and exciting.

"Before we went to the East of Scotland League, we were looking for something fresh, new challenges and for the glass ceiling in the juniors to be removed.

"It's exciting."

While he is optimistic his side have the capability of challenging towards the top of the table, Courts cautioned: "We have to respect the teams that are in there and the signings that they have made.

"The good thing about the Super League was that it taught us not to aim too high too quick, or you'll get your fingers burned. But, at the same time, you have to aim high and we are going in there to be ambitious.

"It will take us out of our comfort zone and we're looking forward to it."