PORTLAND United manager Gary Bailey is expecting an entertaining encounter when his side take on Sholing at Grove Corner tomorrow (3pm).

The visitors currently sit in fourth position in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division, and with the Blues in the process of challenging for the title, the manager is anticipating a game of high quality.

He said: “The team are feeling very positive. We have four games to go and are second in the league, so it’s all to play for.

“The test on Saturday is a big one. Sholing are going really well. They’re a good club, are very well run and have a lot of stability there. It’s a very stable group of players and a manager who has just done 900 games in charge, and that’s testament to how well the club’s run.

“We know we’re in for a proper test and it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“Sholing are well-drilled and the goalkeeper has just played 200 games so they’re very settled and organised. I think they’ll be tough to break down and they pose a threat going forward.

“They’re the real deal. We lost 1-0 up there in a good game, so Saturday will be a tight affair I’m sure.

“But we’ve scored 100 goals in the league this season and we back ourselves. If we play to our potential we’re a threat to anybody, and I’m sure Sholing will be aware of that.”

With the race for places at the top of league getting close, Bailey says that the games will be decided by fine margins.

“They had a draw with Blackfield & Langley last Saturday, so there’s not much between the top sides in this league and who wins on Saturday will be about who edges it on the day.

“We can’t influence anything other than our games. All we’ll do is prepare for Sholing and whatever happens we’ll go again in the next game.

“We don’t change how we prepare, the only game we can affect is our own.

“We’ve trained this week and we’ll focus on Sholing on Saturday, not on who we play after, or what anybody else is doing in the league. The only game we can affect is our own and that’s where our preparation will be.

“Hopefully it’ll be a good game with two good sides and when the top teams play each other, anything can happen.”

Manager Bailey also confirmed that Ed Bastick is set to return to the squad after being unavailable last week.

Jamie Beasley is serving the second of his two-game suspension.