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Odder already thinking about the local clash against Aarhus

- The best handball is not played at the start of the season and this won't be a great game either, but we are playing at home and we have to win. It's one of those games in which we have to set a high level for the rest of the season - said Skjern's biggest reinforcement Nikolaj Markussen

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Skjern handled their Round of 16 game in the Cup against the second-division team TMS Ringsted without too much trouble and got on the verge of reaching the Final Four. It was a good introduction for the start of the new season on Thursday. It ended in a win by 12 goals and TMS are one of Skjern's favorite 'customers' in Danish handball; it was their 18th win in a row. They were lead by pivot Thomas Klitgaard with 9 goals, but we should also emphasized 4 goals from Nikolaj Markussen, their biggest reinforcement this season and the player around who a lot will revolve this season.

With him, Møllgaard, Søndergaard, Daniel Svensson,nd middle back Lasse Mikkelsen, coach Ole Nørgaard has a great back court that should play a major role in the battle for the title.

- We are huge favorites today and everything but an initial win would be a failure - said Daniel Svensson, who arrived from Lübbecke last season, but serious illness prevented him from playin the entire season.

- It's important to get a good start of the season and that's why we'll face Odder with lots of power and I hope they will allow us to play handball. They can play freely against top teams, we have everything to lose and not them. They will look for the slightest chance and we have to be careful. We are playing at home and nothing will be free - said the back player.

- The best handball is not played at the start of the season and this won't be a great game either, but we are playing at home and we have to win. It's one of those games in which we have to set a high level for the rest of the season - said Nikolaj Markussen, who got praise from his teammate Klitgaard after the game with TMS.

- He has good vision of his teammates, it sometimes seems so easy as he draws lots of attention of the opposition's defense, so the question is how to use that.

Skjern have no major injury problems at the start of the season as their left-handed player Jesper Dahl is still out from last season, but René Rasmussen is the first option for his spot.

Odder are a newly promoted team from a small town near Arhus and this will be the first trip into the top flight in their history. There are lots of players that have never played at this level and also a lot of those who have already been in various top division clubs. During the summer they brought two players from Skive: Bruzelius (RB) and Kocemba (LW). Their main players are right wing Kristian Klitgaard, right back Martinussen, left/middle back Jacob Halle, all three in the team from last season.

They have also kept their young coach Morten Secher who has no illusions ahead of this game:

- We probably have very little chance of winning but that doesn't mean that we'll give up right away.

Their official season also started in the Cup last week as they played against Aalborg who had plenty of new players at the start, a completely opposite situation than Skjern's. After 12-13 at half-time, Aalborg got an early 4-5 goal lead at the start and maintained it until the end (24-21). Klitgaard scored 4 and pivot Rasmus Hansen led the way with 5 goals.

They will have their first official home game against Aarhus in four games in four days, and it's certain they have their thoughts set on this local derby.

- We've shown against Aalborg that we can handle the best if we get the game into our turf. We won't always get that every time but we could threaten even the best teams from time to time - said coach Secher.

- Skjern will be very powerful, that's why we have no chance. They're really strong, we know that Møllgaard scores 4 goals every game just by running coast to coast and that Søndergaard scores 4 from the outside and 4 from penetration, and we also know how well they can find Klitgaard on the line. We are aware of that but if we managed to eliminate some of it, we might have a chance. But they're bloody good in all of it. 

Secher believes that Skjern won't underestimate them...

- It's the first game and they have to win at home. They're a running machine and they want to get a good start of the game.