SFL Focus: First Division: Dundee and Hamilton lead way

At that stage, up to five teams prepared for their opening matches with a legitimate hope of claiming the championship.

The duopoly of the top flight, thankfully, is not replicated elsewhere. As the Scottish Football League campaign begins this weekend, onlookers have cause to be encouraged by a First Division which looks as open as has been the case for years. Competition and quality must not be confused as the same thing but this has the potential to be an attractive chase for promotion.

Barry Smith's superb work in stabilising - and improving - on-field matters at Dundee against a disastrous financial backdrop carried the drawback of raising expectation. If only by a narrow margin, Dundee are the favourites to claim the First Division title. Yet the loss of two of their key players from last season, Gary Harkins and Sean Higgins, offsets the theory the Dark Blues can pick up where they left off.

It would be unfortunate if Smith suffers under that weight of hope, given the level of his performance when stepping forward last season. Still, it would be a shock if Dundee's squad - the majority of which has remained intact, to the surprise of many - isn't competitive enough for at least a challenge at the summit of the division.

Dundee are only the narrow favourites in front of Hamilton to return to the SPL. The policy at New Douglas Park continues to be the promotion of youth players, with those who have emerged before illustrating that Billy Reid has cause for optimism.

Of the Hamilton 20-man squad, half that number are aged 19 or under. "That's always the ethos of this club," Reid said. "It's the only way to survive and we'll certainly do that."

Reid's own stock and ambitions, which saw him courted by English clubs in the past, depend to a large extent on Hamilton's ability to bounce back.

Livingston have a similarly youthful squad, but probably more confidence. Gary Bollan's team defied their SFL penalty of two years ago by bouncing back to Scotland's second tier in successive seasons; Livingston's form in pre-season and level of talent has many believing another league win could be forthcoming.

At Falkirk, Steven Pressley's ability to quell discontent from the stands depends on a bright start to the season. The Falkirk board are to be praised for not dispensing with Pressley's services after he failed to guide the club immediately back to the SPL. However, and with resources tight, the former Hearts captain will know that pressure will mount if his second attempt opens in an unimpressive fashion.

Partick, too, have little in way of funds to bestow on Jackie McNamara as he begins his first full season in management.The immediate aim at Firhill is to increase attendance levels to the point where the continuation of full-time football is guaranteed.

Raith's placing somewhere down the betting is notable given how close they pushed champions Dunfermline last season. John McGlynn's coaching ability probably hasn't had the recognition it deserves although the departure of Gregory Tade won't have helped the manager this time around. Yet it would be unwise to discount Raith, given McGlynn's aptitude for sourcing fresh talent and the work ethic his team displays in abundance.

Of the outsiders, Morton catch the eye. Albeit they faced lower league opposition, back-to-back cup victories against with an aggregate win of 11-0 can only have boosted confidence in Allan Moore's squad. "No disrespect to the teams we have already played, but we are prepared for the step-up in standard this weekend," insisted Morton captain, Stuart McCaffrey.

Moore's transfer dealings have added potency to the Greenock side's attack, as demonstrated by Paul Di Giacomo during his opening two matches.

Di Giacomo, Andy Jackson and Peter MacDonald offer an attacking threat which will be the envy of other First Division managers. For these reasons, Morton's opening day visit to Dingwall looks an intriguing fixture.

Derek Adams has been busier than Moore in the transfer market, with Ross County boasting what looks like comfortably the largest first team squad in the league. The recruitment of Russell Duncan and Grant Munro from Inverness will add an experienced backbone to County although they, unlike Morton, have stuttered in their two cup games.

Queen of the South and Ayr United are the pair tipped to fight relegation rather the trouble the division's leading lights. Nonetheless, Gus MacPherson has experience of winning the First Division with St Mirren and will therefore have higher hopes in Dumfries. Ayr, like Livingston, have received plaudits for their pre-season form and have a squad laced with the sort of lower league experience which could well stand them in more reasonable stead than some would anticipate.