The new skipper of Sutton Cricket Club believes his team can compete with the best on the eve of their Surrey Championship opener.

Garth Davson, 24, took on the top job after previous incumbant David Mitchell, who will continue to play for the Premier Division club, stepped down.

Sutton travel to Weybridge on Saturday and South African born all-rounder Davson is keen to replicate last season's third-placed finish.

He said: "I'd like to think we can compete with the best teams in the league and be in or around a similar position to last season.

"It will be a challenge, but it's something we're looking forward to."

Davson is quietly confident about his team's prospects having already won three friendlies and an ECB National Knockout Cup round one opener against Banstead.

"We've enjoyed some good form in pre-season and it was all about getting the guys back in the right frame of mind for the season ahead," he added.

"There's no reason why we can't be right up there this year."

Davson is not taking anything for granted, however, as his side prepare to face Weybridge, a team that finished two places below Sutton last year.

"We beat them twice last season, only by seven runs away, so it could be a tricky challenge."

Sutton have added 20-year-old Afghanistan born all-rounder Aman Shinwari to their squad this season, a player with Surrey second XI experience.

Davson said: "We've lost Warren Barnes, one of our top seamers last year, and he will be hard to replace, but Aman has joined from Banstead and will be a good addition."

Sutton's trip to Weybridge Cricket Ground on Saturday (12pm) is followed by the visit to Gander Green Lane of Roffey on Sunday in the second round of the Knockout Cup (1pm).