It will be about us, insists Gillingham defender Cheye Alexander ahead of their opening-day League 2 match at Stockport County.

It’s a tough start for the Gills as they visit one of the promotion favourites this Saturday.

Having lost in the play-off Final last term to Carlisle on penalties, County have signed ex-Salford skipper Ibou Touray, former Manchester United and Stoke player Nick Powell and fellow forward Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa, as they aim to go one better this time around.

Alexander said: “Every game in League 2 is hard.

“We’ve just got to go into it knowing, if we do our jobs, we’ll come out on top and take the three points.

“But the main thing is for us to turn up and do ‘us’. That’s all we need to worry about.”

Hollywood-backed Wrexham will also play in the fourth tier this term after their title triumph.

Asked if this was the most competitive League 2 he could remember, Alexander replied: “Probably, yeah. It’s going to be a great season.

“I think everyone is excited for it and we cannot wait to get going. Pre-season is finished now, we have a massive game on Saturday - and another 45 after that.”

There is also a buzz around the Medway club at the moment, too, ahead of their first full campaign under chairman Brad Galinson.

He took the club out to Italy earlier in the month to take on Como - in a game they won 1-0 - before the first-team side finished their run of warm-up fixtures with a weekend away victory by the same scoreline against Dagenham & Redbridge.

“The fans we took to Italy just shows the direction that we’re going,” noted Alexander.

“For us players, we just want to produce on the pitch week-in, week-out, and keep the fans happy and keep the fans coming back.”

The Gills’ squad was enhanced further last week, with the arrival of striker Ashley Nadesan and signing of left-sided former Millwall man Scott Malone.

Right-back Alexander saw how their January recruits helped improve them - and got them away from the threat of relegation - and hopes similar happens again.

“Last year, we had a few additions and it did improve the squad,” he said. “That showed in performances.

“Getting the depth in the squad and the new additions that we’ve got is amazing.

“It only puts us into a better position.”

More quality does bring greater competition for places - but that’s something 28-year-old Alexander says he won’t mind.

He said: “I think, in a squad, you need competition. It gets the best out of individual players - like myself and Robbie [McKenzie], and Clarky [Max Clark] and Scotty at left-back.

“Competition is a good thing. We’re a team and we’re a squad.

“Whoever plays, if they go and do their job, everyone is happy.”

Defender Shadrach Ogie netted the only goal at Victoria Park as Gillingham finished pre-season with a win.

Alexander reflected: “Pre-season was different class from the boys. Going out to Italy, the togetherness was there and Saturday just summed it up, really.

“It was a good win, leading into the season, but also, it was a good performance.

“That’s the main thing in pre-season.”

Goalkeeper Jake Turner started ahead of veteran Glenn Morris and came through 90 minutes, making some decent saves in order to preserve a clean sheet.

Alexander said: “Jake’s different class, he always has been. We’ve got two very good keepers.

“Whoever plays, they’re going to do their job and that’s testament to both of them and the club for getting two amazing keepers in.”

And regardless of which one gets the nod between the sticks at Edgeley Park, Alexander is confident Gillingham’s outfield players will have a safe pair of hands behind them.

He said: “I think that [the confidence of having a quality keeper] goes through the whole squad.

“We’ve got strength in all positions and we go into this year very strong. I know there’s going to be pressure but there’s always pressure.”

Pre-season is few players’ favourite part of the campaign. While Alexander accepts it’s key, he’s pleased all Gills’ friendlies are now out of the way and they’re on to the real stuff.

He added: “Pre-season is not great.

“Obviously, everyone looks forward to the season, but everyone knows pre-season is an important part if you’re going to go into the main season and perform how you should.

“I think, as a team, we’ve done that. As a club, we’ve done that.

“We go into Saturday very strong and looking forward to getting going.”