GARY Bailey is bracing himself for what he believes will be a tricky test for the Blues at Bland-ford United tomorrow (2pm).

The Grove Corner outfit do not hold fond memories from their last trip to Blandford in the Dorset Premier League Cup last month, having scraped past their counterparts on penalties in a performance that their manager was less than impressed with.

Asked whether that day will be pointed out to his defending Dorset Premier League champions, the Blues’ chief told Echosport: “It will certainly be mentioned in the build-up to the game for sure, we lost up their last year as well in terrible conditions so we will want to put things right.

“It’s one of those tricky venues that if you don’t treat properly it can come back to bite you so we will be fully focused to get the job done.

“They have got a new manager and have signed two or three players by the looks of it to try and turn their fortunes around.

“As soon as a club gets a new manager everyone is out to prove a point and try and impress, it brings freshness to a club so it will be a tough time to go up there.”

Portland, in search of their 12th league win of the campaign this weekend, will have Ross Car-michael back among their ranks for the encounter.

Royals’ new manager Bradley Asagba saw his side overcome Sturminster Marshall last time out, but is still demanding more from his squad.

He said: “Last week’s victory was very pleasing of course, however several elements of the performance were not and the players are now becoming aware of the standards demanded of them.

“To get anything out of the game this weekend every player and department of the team will need to be functioning at 100 per cent for us to get anything from Gary’s team.

“They will rightly be strong favourites to take all three points but we look forward to challenge of competing against them.”

Elsewhere in the division, Weymouth Reserves travel to bottom club Hamworthy United Reserves, and Bridport Reser-ves lock horns at Sherborne Town Reserves (both 2pm).