The Silkmen kick off the new season with an away trip to Hereford this Friday night, with the match the curtain opener on the 2012/13 season in the Conference.
And it offers the winners a chance to top the table, if only for a few hours, but both clubs will be looking to start as they hope to go on.
Hereford United were, of course, relegated along with the Silkmen from the Football League at the end of last season.
It's been a summer of rebuilding for both clubs, with the Silkmen and the Bulls seeing a large turnover in players over the break, with both clubs also changing their manager over the close season - Hereford hiring Martin Foyle after Richard O'Kelly turned down the full-time manager's position.
Recent signings for the Bulls include 'keeper James Bittner, defenders Luke Graham, Andy Gallinagh and Chris Carruthers, strikers Ryan Bowman and Marlon Jackson and Cheltenham winger Marley Watkins.
Pre Season: With all the usual caveats of not being able to judge much from pre-season matches, the Bulls, have come through the campaign unbeaten with three wins and three draws. The draws came against Yeovil (H) 1-1 , Worcester City (A) 0-0 and Everton (H) 0-0 and wins against Gloucester City (H) 4-2, Wesfields FC (A) 2-0 and Bristol City (H) 2-0.
Check www.mtfc.co.uk for more match build-up.