RICHARD Hill reckons Eastleigh have been dealt the second hardest possible start to the new Conference South campaign.

The Spitfires – beaten play-off semi-finalists last season – will kick off 2013/14 at home to a Sutton United side managed by their former boss Paul Doswell.

And, in Hill’s book, the only way Eastleigh’s opener could have been tougher was if they’d landed Sutton United away!

Although Ladbrokes’ latest betting odds quote Sutton as 7/1 joint third favourites for the title behind Ebbsleet United (3/1) and Eastleigh (10/3), Hill fancies the Us to lead the way.

Just like the Spitfires, Doswell’s men had a cracking end to last season, finishing just two points short of the play-offs in sixth.

And with several quality players recruited this summer – including ex-Eastleigh trio Dale Binns, Mitchell Nelson and Jamie Slabber and former Lincoln City striker Jamie Taylor – the signs are that the Surrey side will be serious promotion contenders next time round.

“In my opinion, our first game is against the favourites to win the league,” said Hill. “The only tougher fixture would have been Sutton away.

“They finished last season better than we did and, had it gone on for another couple of weeks, they would probably have ended up in the play-offs.”

Hill, though, won’t spend too much time chewing over what might or might not happen on August 17.

“When the fixtures come out everyone’s excited and, like all football people who get bored in the summer, we’d love the season to be starting this Saturday,” he said.

“But it’s not. For us, it’s still six weeks away and, if you get too wrapped up with the first game, you can take your eye off the work you’ve got to do in pre-season.

“It doesn’t matter who you play in the first game in that respect as long as you’re fully prepared. We’ll treat Sutton with the same respect we would any other team.” Eastleigh kick off their pre-season programme on Tuesday (July 9, 7.45pm) at home to npower League Two side Wycombe Wanderers.

Lastest Conference South title odds (by Ladbrokes): Ebbsfleet 3/1, Eastleigh 10/3, Dover 7/1, Sutton 7/1, Chelmsford 10/1, Havant & Waterlooville 16/1, Weston-super-Mare 16/1, Boreham Wood 20/1, Whitehawk 22/1, Basingstoke 25/1, Bath City 25/1, Eastbourne 25/1, Dorchester 33/1, Bishops Stortford 33/1, Bromley 33/1, Tonbridge Angels 33/1, Farnborough 40/1, Hayes & Yeading 50/1, Staines 50/1, Maidenhead 66/1, Gosport Borough 80/1, Concord Rangers 80/1.