MANAGER Jason Matthews predicts league new boys Kettering Town will be well in the mix at the top end of the table this term.

Weymouth travel to Latimer Park tomorrow (3pm) to do battle with the Poppies, who have already locked horns with title hopefuls Poole and Merthyr as part of a challenging opening schedule.

They were undone in a 3-2 defeat at Leamington on Tuesday and have picked up four points from as many games so far.

But Terras chief Matthews believes the strength of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division has increased this season, and clubs like Kettering are a big factor in that.

“There are some really good sides in the league this year and Kettering coming up are a big club,” he told Echosport.

“They have played some good sides so far and, on the whole, it is a really tough league and every away game for us is going to be difficult.”

Asked if he thought tomorrow’s hosts will be in the shake up in the latter stages of the campaign, Matthews said: “Yes, I know Marcus Law (Kettering’s manager), he was a goalkeeper at Bristol Rovers a year younger than me.

“He has great pedigree as a manager and it will be nice to see Marcus. I know his team will be right up for it.”

The Weymouth squad is set to be unchanged.