THE JD Welsh Premier League returns this weekend, with Barry Town's visit to champions The New Saints among the feature attractions.

Last season, a crowd of almost 1,000 fans saw the Saints run out 1-0 winners at Jenner Park, courtesy of Wes Fletcher's 25th-minute effort.

However, Barry would turn the tables in November's return fixture, as Kayne McLaggon's 51st-minute strike secured a 1-0 win of their own.

Gavin Chesterfield's team will be hoping for similar heroics this Sunday (2.30pm kick-off), encouraged by an unbeaten pre-season campaign.

After beating Penydarren, Ton Pentre and a Swansea City XI, the Town wrapped up their preparations with another good victory on Saturday.

Visitors Redditch United had pegged Barry back to 1-1, only for debutant goalscorer Momodou Touray to net two more in a sizzling second half.

Touray's hat-trick bodes well for his season at Barry, but the prospect will need to be at his best against the league's only fully-professional side.

Champions for the seventh successive year, TNS have a number of games behind them this season already, thanks to their European exploits.

Despite crashing to defeat in their continental curtain-raiser at Macedonia's KF Shkëndija, the Saints would win the second leg 4-0 at Park Hall.

A subsequent two-legged triumph against Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps set up this week's tie with Midtjylland, which sandwiches the Barry match.

With the Saints playing their home leg at the Cardiff City Stadium this Thursday, Barry boss Gavin Chesterfield is expected to be an interested spectator.

One of the league's most evocative fixtures, Barry and TNS have between them won 18 of the 26 titles contested in JD Welsh Premier League history.

Among their memorable clashes, Saints would inflict Barry's lone defeat of the 1996-97 season, prevailing 1-0 at their former Llansantffraid home.

However, the Town would respond in unforgettable fashion, dishing out a 10-0 drubbing at Jenner in September with Eifion Williams scoring five.

Having battled in a number of JD Welsh Cup and FAW Premier Cup classics, the two clubs would also contest the 2017 Nathaniel MG Cup Final.

Admission for Sunday's game at Park Hall, Whittington (SY11 4AS) is £8 (adult), £4 (concessions) and £1 (juniors), all payable at the turnstiles.

For those unable to travel, the home club typically provides live audio coverage via its website, located at TNSFC.co.uk/Radio

Barry's first match at Jenner Park will be on Sunday 19th August, when Bala Town are the visitors in another 2.30pm kick-off.