Oban Camanachd have recruited their former Camanachd Cup-winning skipper Neil MacInnes to focus on their fitness as the Mossfield men target a much improved season after only avoiding relegation on the final day last term.
New team manager Diarmid Macmillan feels last weekend's shock win at Kingussie was a huge boost and tomorrow the teams meet again at Oban.
Macmillan said: “We have changed the way the team trains and changed the whole pattern of how things are run, and this is being introduced from the under-17s up to the first team.
“Neil MacInnes has returned to the club as trainer, which is very important, and I think the squad is getting fitter, sharper and gaining in belief.
“We've got excellent young players and they're getting their chance.”
An Oban revival is long overdue and, with Iain Macmillan as captain and with young Aidan MacIntyre in terrific form, the Red and Blacks have got off to a flier with two wins out of three and only Kyles Athletic have more Premier League points than they have.
Kingussie, who are still without Ronald Ross, have dropped three points in three games and their title challenge will be an uphill task if Oban complete a double over them. But manager Steve Borthwick and his side are thirsting for revenge.
Champions Newtonmore, in free-scoring form with David Cheyne, Glen Mackintosh and Steven Macdonald joining Danny MacRae in hitting the net regularly, host Glenurquhart who are chasing their first win.
Lovat, still without a point, are at home to Fort William, who welcome back Liam MacIntyre after a three-game suspension but Kyle Grant, sent off last week, is suspended while John Macdonald has another week to go of his ban.
Kilmallie's cup win last weekend gives a lift to John Stewart and his team-mates but they visit Glenorchy in a duel of the promoted sides with both desperate for their first points.
The other Premier fixture is the all-Argyll match with leaders Kyles Athletic putting their 100% record at risk at Inveraray.
The Camanachd Cup gets under way with three preliminary ties, two of them involving marathon journeys. Caberfeidh make the trek to Bute where they have a tough task while Fife club Aberdour plays in the top national competition for the first time with a long haul to Cannich.
The teams have never met before and host club Strathglass have Scott Douglas suspended.
The other tie sees Ballachulish make the much shorter journey to Spean Bridge to face Lochaber, who start slight favourites.
But longest journey of all this weekend sees North Third Division new team Lewis Camanachd head for Ardnamurchan, who fielded two under-14s when losing 7-0 to table-toppers Aberdeen University last weekend when the islanders were picking up their first point.
"The majority of our side are under 18", says Ardnamurchan player-manager Stuart Carmichael.
“But most Lewis players are at college or university so they won't have to travel from Stornoway, though it'll be a different story at the Easter break.”
Kinlochshiel wait for a check on injured Fraser MacVicar as they try to dig in at the top of the North First Division by winning at home to Inverness.
Resurgent Beauly host Skye who have still to rack up a win.