Sheffield Wednesday manager, Brian Laws, says he has never anticipated a new season with the zest he has ahead of the 2009/10 Championship campaign.

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In an exclusive interview with Wednesday World the Owls boss insists that no division rivals the Championship in terms of excitement and that the new season has all the ingredients to be one to remember.

Kicking off against local rivals Barnsley on August 8 will get the season off with a bang but Laws has his eye on other big matches - and particularly those against fallen giants, Newcastle United.

He said: "It will be tougher and there's no question about it because the teams that have come in are stronger. You can't get much bigger than Newcastle, so it's going to be a real test for everybody but one we are all looking forward to.

"Everybody realises Newcastle are a big club and it will be tough for them because they are a scalp. Middlesbrough are in a similar situation, still wealthy and keeping players who are reputedly on a lot of money."

Looking ahead to the Tykes curtain-raiser, Laws has stressed the importance of getting off to a good start against Simon Davey's side.

He continued: "We didn't do too well against them last season and it's time we put that right. We have to hit the ground running and make it very uncomfortable for them."

The Owls, of course, opened last season by thumping Premier League new boys, Burnley, something from which Laws took great heart given the Clarets' eventual play-off success.

"You look at Burnley and yes, we beat them convincingly, and not once but twice. But credit to them, they were more consistent over the season than we were and they didn't have many injuries, they used the least amount of players and it just shows you what can be achieved."

And with a strengthened squad, Laws believes he has a good mix of youth and experience that should stand the Owls in good stead.

"I think that with the squad we've put together, we've filled in the areas where we lacked in experience and leadership," he explained. "Darren Purse has always been a leader and hopefully that will rub off on everybody else. There is also Michael Gray and Tommy Miller, who are experienced in this division and they have been very successful in their own right.

"We can only benefit from them and combined with the young players in the squad it all stands us in good stead for next year. I've never been more excited about a season than this year."