Salisbury
So the real test starts away to Salisbury tomorrow, the mirror to last season's opening fixture when we ground out a 0-0 draw much against the balance of play. Salisbury and Hampton both had similar seasons, struggling towards the wrong end of the table but managing to pull clear of the drop with a couple of games to spare. Most NLS pundits are predicting similarly difficult seasons for both sides but that might just reflect the large turnover in players at both clubs. We are definitely stronger if first choices are available but so is the league over all. Not losing the opening game always feels a bit of a psychological booster for any club and with three successive away games there will be pressure on us to make a solid start, spectacular can come later. I hope we have a fit compliment of players for the game, particularly RGC who is our main goal threat. Any fitness issues aside, I suspect we will see a similar starting line up to Basingstoke. Keeper and back three look nailed-on certain, main questions will be whether Hassan starts or is held back for second half impact and whether RGC partners with Sho-Silva or Max K. No announcement so far that Sodje has been signed and if not then I would expect Hassan left to start with Mullins on the right. Atkinson, Widddrington and Fonguck filling the central midfield roles.