KEITH Hill is looking to his Rochdale squad to overachieve yet again when the League Two season kicks off a week on Saturday.

Hill knows that Dale can no longer be classed as a surprise package after reaching the play-offs during both of his two full seasons in charge.

But with a tight budget and a squad of just 18 players to work with, the Dale boss is also fully aware of just how tough a task it will be to match those achievements.

The absence of key defender Rory McArdle, who will miss the first month of the season with a dislocated shoulder, will only make that job harder.

Hill, though, feels he has got a good mixture of youth and experience in the squad as he prepares for the new campaign, which starts at Port Vale on August 8.

He said: "The level of expectation is something we can’t control. We’ve done well over the last couple of seasons, and we will be expected to be able to compete again.

"I don’t think we are competing on a level playing field with some of the teams in this division when it comes to spending.

"That means we need to over-achieve. We’ve got to punch above our weight on an individual and a collective basis."

Hill felt his players did just that in the 1-1 friendly draw with Championship side Blackpool at Spotland last Saturday.

He said: "I was very pleased, especially with the second-half performance. I thought our fitness levels were good. It was very encouraging.

"There is an optimism within the playing squad ahead of the new season. From a coaching and management perspective, we are optimistic too – but we’re also aware of the need for patience."

The Dale boss has already made it clear that YTS lads such as Callum Byrne, Chris Brown and Josh Brizzell will have key roles to play over the coming months.

He is also aware of the need to give those youngsters time to develop.

Hill said: "We’re trying to develop young players here. And when players are trying to develop, they are going to make mistakes.

"So we’ve got to be a little bit forgiving and allow these players to learn their trade."

The Dale boss is continuing to look at trialists Marlon Broomes and Matty McNeil, and both are expected to play some part in the friendly at Rossendale this evening (Wednesday).

Otherwise, it will be a line-up of fringe players at Dark Lane, with a much stronger side turning out against Southport at Haig Avenue this Saturday.

Hill is hoping to give former Blackburn defender Broomes and ex-Macclesfield and Stockport striker McNeil a chance to build up their fitness ahead of the new season.

The Dale boss, who released fellow trialist Nathan Woolfe last week, is likely to have to offload a player if he wants to offer Broomes or McNeil a deal.

He said: "Marlon and Matty are continuing to train with us, although no negotiations are currently taking place.

"But we might have the opportunity to get a loan player in, and it is good to have a look at the trialists.

"They have got to be fit, though, and they are playing catch-up with the others in the squad to a certain degree.

"But they’ve shown plenty of enthusiasm and drive to make that happen. They will both be involved at Rossendale to get a bit of action under their belts."