So much about the revamped Crusaders is last minute, even down to the blank squad list in the new-season media guide.

But despite their travails, the engage Super League’s Welsh representatives are guaranteed a bigger crowd in Wrexham for the match against Leeds Rhinos that opens the season on Friday than was attracted during the four-year existence of Celtic Crusaders in Bridgend.

They were bought out last month by a consortium led by Geoff Moss, the owner of Wrexham FC. And pre-match sales have comfortably exceeded the 6,373 for an Anglo-Welsh international in 2001, the previous occasion that rugby league was played at the Racecourse Ground.

“The interest in the game in Wrexham and across North Wales is tremendous. At this rate we’re not ruling out the possibility that Friday is going to be a sell-out [10,500],” Mike Turner, the Crusaders’ chief executive, said.

The true test of appetite for the sport in a traditionally football area will come when the novelty has worn off, but Crusaders have generated sufficient interest to ensure an encouraging start — off the field at least.

Building a competitive team virtually from scratch has fully tested the patience and endurance of Brian Noble, the Crusaders’ celebrated coach. Noble has not yet finished his team-building and he confirmed Ryan O’Hara, one of ten survivors from the 2009 Crusaders squad, as his captain only this week.

O’Hara, the former Wests Tigers prop, who began every match last season and was the club’s player of the year, succeeds Jace van Dijk, one of six fellow Australians who were deported in September because of visa irregularities.

Twelve months ago, O’Hara was one of seven players who arrived in the country less then a week before the opening match, also against Leeds, because of visa delays. “Preparation wasn’t great last year,” O’Hara said. “This time it’s been a lot smoother.

“We’ve still a couple more guys to come on board but we’ve been working really hard at training. It’s a totally different atmosphere from last year. Everyone is excited to get our first match under our belt. We’ve drawn the short straw again in Leeds, but we’re up for it.”

Nigel Wood, the RFL chief executive, said: “Celtic Crusaders had considerable issues, on the field and off it, but it’s testimony to the strength of Super League that new owners were found to take it over as a growing concern.

“There hasn’t been a wholesale withdrawal from South Wales. We’ve got a complete pyramid structure in Wales, with a thriving community game of ten clubs in summer through to a new Championship One club in the South Wales Scorpions [in Neath] and a Super League club for the very best Welsh talent coming through.”

Greg Eastwood, the New Zealand forward, will make his Leeds debut after a year’s delay caused by the refusal of a visa and then a wrist injury.