Steven Noble reckons there is a noticeable difference in standard between Scottish League 1 and League 2 but the Peterhead captain still believes his side can hold their own.
The Blue Toon romped to the League 2 title last season, finishing 13 points ahead of runners-up Annan Athletic.
Life in League 1 has proven to be tougher with only one victory from their opening five matches.
However left back Noble is still confident his team can enjoy a top half finish.
He said: “I know you hear a lot of people say there isn’t much difference between League 2 and League 1 but I do see a difference.
“I have played in this division before and it is a harder league with better players.
“You get punished for any mistakes as we learned to our cost on Saturday against Forfar.
“The other teams have better quality players and we have a couple of full time teams in Dunfermline and Morton who have slightly superior fitness
levels.
“But I don’t see any reason why we can’t compete.
“Last season we got our own way in the majority of games. That won’t be the case this season – it is going to be tougher but hopefully we can push for a play-off place.”
Stenhousemuir visit Balmoor this afternoon and Noble says it is imperative Peterhead make the most of their home games this season.
He said: “There is not much between the teams but we know this is a big game for us.
“As long as we can win the majority of our home games and keep picking up points here and there away from home then we will be fine.
“It is hard to predict which teams are going to be challenging and which teams will finish near the bottom. But we need to
get as many points on the board as early as we can.”
And for Peterhead to add to their points tally, Noble knows a vastly improved display is required from the side’s 1-0 defeat at Forfar last weekend.
He added: “If it wasn’t for our goalkeeper, Graeme Smith, we would have been a few down at half time.
“Forfar are a good side and they look like they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. We never played at all, especially in the first half. The second half was slightly more even but it was too late by then.”