NEW head coach Paul McCartin has warned his Derby team not to make the same mistakes others made against them last season when they get their new Midlands One East campaign under way this weekend.

Derby travel to Wellingborough tomorrow (3pm) looking to build on their successful 2009-10 campaign, when they finished fourth.

Tomorrow's opponents finished third from bottom but were saved from the drop due to promotion and relegation issues elsewhere.

Derby closed last season with a 36-21 win at Wellingborough but McCartin, who was then part of Alan Dickens' coaching team, will be making sure his new-look side does not underestimate the Northamptonshire outfit.

"Wellingborough are in a similar situation to Derby a year ago," he said.

"Derby had finished third from bottom the previous season but avoided relegation and everyone thought it would be a guaranteed two points against us, which turned out not to be the case.

"Teams will probably underestimate them but we are not going to make that mistake.

"You never know what to expect from opposition teams at the start of a new season.

"No doubt, they will have had a bit of a turnover of players, too, and they will be keen to get off to a good start at home.

"Everyone is always full of enthusiasm at the start of the season.

"As far as we are concerned, we have to be on our guard, focused and professional and do the job we know we are capable of doing."

Derby have lost key men Adam Parkins and Tom Warren, who have linked up with Dickens at the Northampton Saints Academy.

Dan Sanderson has also been at Northampton on trial but has suffered a fractured eye socket, which is expected to keep him sidelined for some time.

Greg Bramhall, Tom Turner and Ed Perry, meanwhile, have all moved away due to work, with Dave Fitchett joining Burton.

Summer recruits include fly-half/centre Ed Hutchinson, from Bakewell Mannerians, and centre Chris Meddings, from Worthing.

Nottingham Academy youngsters Kane Nixon, a full-back or winger, Russ Westcott (winger), Ben Smith (winger), Ollie James (centre), Ollie Taylor (hooker) and Luke Wilmott (flanker) have also arrived at Haslams Lane, while second row Liam Mather has joined from Newark.

Mather has recovered from a cartilage operation and will be one of five debutants tomorrow.

Meddings, Westcott and Wilmott also start and NLD Under-20 player Ed Worthington will line up at full-back.

McCartin has also been boosted by the return of Ben Coombes to the front row after more than a year out with an ankle injury.

"Pre-season has been all about the new players trying to gel together with the team," said the coach.

"We have had some good times and some not so good times but pre-season is the time to work these things out.

"We've not had everyone available at the same time yet, so it's still a bit of a work in progress – a bit like last season.

"We have effectively lost a whole set of forwards and there are a few new faces in the squad."