PORTLAND United boss Brendon King feels the Blues’ Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash at Horndean tomorrow (3pm) will provide an indication as to the club’s progress this season.

King’s side travel to the league’s second-placed outfit for their eighth away game in 13 fixtures this season.

And the former Weymouth boss expects an awkward assignment away to the Deans after their penalty shoot-out win over Tadley Calleva in the League Cup on Saturday.

He told Echosport: “It’s going to be tough, it’s always going to be at their place. They’re a good side.

“We’ll certainly take some confidence with last week’s performance, irrespective of the result because the performance was really good.

“(Horndean) have normally got quite a physical side but they’ve got some youthful players. It is what it is, we’ve just got to get on with it.

“It’s one we’re looking forward to and let’s see where we’re at as a club. We’ve lost two in the league, so have they, so it will be interesting.

“It’s another away game – we seem to have played a lot of away games but the pitch should be quite nice up there.”

Stephen Walker is suspended after picking up five bookings, while Lewis Whyton and Sean Stewart return after their partners gave birth last weekend.

King said: “We’d like to congratulate them on behalf of the club. We had to change it around last minute (against Tadley) but the lads who came in did well. It gives us food for thought.”