PORTLAND United manager Simon Browne is looking for a strong beginning, a strong middle and a strong finish when his side face Shaftesbury away in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division tomorrow (3pm).

The Rockies currently sit in ninth, one place and two points above the Blues in the league and the last time the two sides met it ended in a 2-2 draw.

Browne said: “I am looking for a strong start, strong middle and strong finish, all of the above.

“We have been working hard on the training pitch, we might look at different formations to see if it helps the lads and turn some of our possession into a few more chances and a few more goals.

“I want my team to do well because it is a reflection of what you are trying to achieve, the team you put out there and hopefully we can turn around last week’s slightly insipid performance into a decent performance on Saturday.”

Referring to the 2-2 draw last time the two sides faced, where the Blues were only denied all three points after a late Jack Vallis penalty, Browne said: “Our personnel will probably be slightly different and Shaftesbury will be a little bit different as well, I do not read too much into what went on previously, we have got to go out there with the right attitude and the desire. and hopefully we can turn that into a good performance and three points.”

Ross Doidge will be assessed ahead of the match as to whether he will be able to play after suffering an ankle injury against Bashley, while Sanchez Baker should be back for the Blues after recovering from an ankle injury.