PORTLAND United welcome the Terras to Grove Corner this evening (7.30pm) in what is the island club’s opening pre-season fixture of the campaign.

Ross Doidge is unlikely to feature for the Blues after picking up a shoulder injury, Dan Austin has a back problem, new recruits Tom Peck and Sean Lillington are both unavailable, as is Ryan McKechnie.

But new signing Carl McClements is set to feature against his former club and midfielder Alex Halloran is expected to take part after recovering from the lengthy knee injury he picked up last season.

Manager Gary Bailey, whose side will make the step up to Sydenhams Wessex One this term, told Echosport: “It’s good for our club to get Weymouth across, normally it brings in a good crowd and it’s a bit of a traditional fixture now.

“It gives us a chance to have a look at where we are organisationally. We know we are going to spend a lot of time without the ball and it adds to our fitness, it will give us some pointers and show us where we need to be when we are playing the better sides.”

For the Terras, boss Jason Matthews is looking to take a strong squad to Portland for the encounter, but new midfielder Mark Molesley is still unavailable.

Matthews also revealed that player-coach Chris McPhee may also require an operation on the hand injury he picked up at Bridport last week and the club are waiting to hear further news in the coming days.