PLYMOUTH Devils will be in cup action for the first six weeks of their new season.

The club's just-released 2012 fixtures show Devils in League Cup action against Rye House at home in the season opener on Friday, March 23.

The following day, the city side are at Newport, also in the League Cup.

In fact, Devils don't start their campaign to improve their second-bottom position in the Premier League last year until May 5, when they again visit Welsh club Newport.

Fans won't see them in league action at the St Boniface Arena until May 11, when Devils face Newcastle Diamonds.

The League Cup will be played in two sections, North and South, with the winners playing off against each other.

The trophy's format is intended to replace last season's two-phased campaign, set up because there were an odd number of teams.

Plymouth finished second-bottom in their first season in the Premier League.

They spent much of the campaign in bottom place, but strung together a nine-meeting unbeaten home run towards the end of the year which lifted them up one place.

Mike Bowden, Devils' chairman and promoter, said he was looking forward to the start of the season.

He said: "I reckon we can do better than we did last year."