IT may only be a few weeks into the new season but Portland United will nevertheless star in arguably the game of the day in Sydenhams Wessex Division One tomorrow.

The Blues travel to Hampshire for a top-of-the-table clash with early pacesetters Alton Town (3pm), who lead the standings on goal difference from Andover New Street after three matches.

Portland are only a point off the summit themselves following two wins and a defeat.

Ed Bastick (suspended), Carl Morris (injured) and Ryan McKechnie (unavailable) won’t be able to make the trip tomorrow, however, Ross Carmichael is available again having missed the 4-0 win at United Services Portsmouth.

Assessing this weekend’s opponents, Portland boss Gary Bailey said: “They’re up there on merit. They’ve had a good start to the season and are unbeaten so far.

“They have moved across from the Combined Counties League and are more used to the standard in this league than we are.

“We are expecting a very stern test and we know we need to be fully on our game.

“It was great to bounce back last Saturday (after losing to Romsey) and we showed that when we start games well we are a match for anyone in this league.

“We’ve got to make sure we do the same this weekend.”

On moving up to a league and facing teams they know very little about, Bailey added: “It has proved hard, but in a way it’s quite refreshing because we get to focus more on ourselves.

“As the weeks tick by we will get to know who the stronger teams are in the league.”