AFTER what has seemed the shortest of summer breaks, Cirencester Town FC are warming up for a second term in the Southern League Premier Division by playing a number of first-class pre-season friendlies.

And in the prestigious first game of this eight-match series, the Centurions are set to entertain the first team of FA League Two side Leyton Orient on Saturday, July 9.

Of the other top-flight teams that manager Brian Hughes and his team will face, Swindon Town are the visitors on Thursday, July 14, while Bristol Rovers arrive for battle on Saturday, August 6.

The full line-up of Cirencester Town's pre-season friendlies is as follows:

Saturday, July 9: Home to Leyton Orient 1st XI, 3pm ko.

Thursday, July 14: Home to Swindon Town XI, 7pm.

Saturday, July 16: Home to Newport County, 3pm.

Tuesday, July 26: Away to Carterton Town, 7.30pm.

Saturday, July 30: Away to Hungerford Town, 3pm.

Tuesday, August 2: Home to Forest Green Rovers, 7.30pm.

Thursday, August 4: Away to Bishop's Cleeve, 7.30pm.

Saturday, August 6: Home to Bristol Rovers, 3pm.

Brian Hughes has indicated that all his playing squad, bar Alan Bird who has departed to become a referee, have returned en bloc for duty.

Even so, it is more than likely that Town's boss will hope to include one or two new faces come the start of the season proper.

For having lost out on a play-off place last season by just one point, Hughes will doubtless want to mount an all-out promotion bid this time around.

The Southern League officially kicks off the 2005/6 season on Saturday, August 14.