SHOLING are confident Saints under-21s will have the perfect platform to showcase their skills in tonight’s pre-season friendly at the Silverlake Arena (Tuesday, 7.30pm).

The Boatmen have temporarily returned to the Sydenhams Wessex League so they can channel their resources into ground improvements at their Portsmouth Road base.

And number one the list is ensuring there is a decent surface to play on.

“Our pitch is the best I’ve seen it, it’s superb,” said chairman/manager Dave Diaper, pictured below.

“Last year it was probably the best surface in the Southern One South & West and a lot of hard work has gone into it over the summer.

“We wanted to give the young lads a surface for the magic they can perform tonight and there will be no excuse not to play good football.

“It’s probably why Saints have looked at us again this year after coming to us last pre-season.

“They’re only playing ourselves and Eastleigh locally and for us to be included is a great honour for our club and we thank Saints for it.”

Southampton have sent Sholing a list of 18 young players likely to feature tonight – 14 members of Martin Hunter’s under-21s, plus defender Jack Stephens and midfielder Calum Chambers who are both part of the first-team squad and second-year scholars Matt Targett and Ryan Seager.

However, there could be a few surprise additions from the senior ranks, just as there were last summer when Lee Barnard, Ryan Dickson and Jonathan Forte all featured in the Premier League club’s 2-1 win.

“Saints have asked for 30 additional passes, so I think they’re bringing quite a contingent with them,” said Diaper. “With the weather being like it is, we’re hoping for a bumper crowd.”

Sholing have had four pre-season training sessions, but defender Lee Bright – a one-time Saints trialist, midfielder Byron Mason and top gun Lee Wort have just got back from holiday.

Bright’s central defensive partner Pete Castle is ruled out by a knee injury, while full-back Mike Carter and forward Barry Mason are still away.

“We’ll have five or six who are not at their fittest, but it’s a good opportunity to see what we’ve got and where we are,” said Diaper.

“We’ll have quite a few youngsters playing ourselves. Danny Miller, Calum Brockway, Mitch Fear, Ryan Lambert and Alex Sawyer will all be involved which says something about our commitment to youth and the Charter Standard Community Club status we’ve just achieved.”

New signings James Taylor and Ashley Jarvis should feature and the Boatmen will also cast an eye over former Eastleigh and Bashley defender/midfielder Jack Smith, who captained Winchester City for a spell last term.

Sholing host Conference new boys Gosport Borough on Friday, July 19, then travel to Cowes Sports on July 27 and to AFC Totton on July 30.

Saints squad: Will Britt (goalkeeper), Chris Johns (goalkeeper), Fraser Colmer (defender), Jordan Turnbull (defender), Jack Stephens (defender), Matt Young (defender), Matt Targett (defender), Calum Chambers (midfielder), Corby Moore (midfielder), Omar Rowe (midfielder), Dominic Gape (midfielder), Lloyd Isgrove (midfielder), Bevis Mugabi (midfielder), Harrison Reed (midfielder), Jamal Branker (midfielder), Joe Curtis (midfielder), Jake Sinclair (striker), Ryan Seager (striker).