BRIDPORT boss Chris Herbst is hoping Portland United can provide the Bees with a strong test in their first friendly of the summer this Saturday (2pm).

One tier separates the sides, with Portland having narrowly missed out on the Wessex League Premier play-offs last season.

Bridport, meanwhile, tailed off slightly to finish fifth in the South West Peninsula League Premier East.

Portland will also have had one match under their belt, a friendly against Sturminster Newton, by the time they visit St Mary’s Field.

READ MORE: Bridport appoint David Richardson as football director

And Herbst is looking forward to gauging how the Bees shape up against higher-level opposition.

He told the Bridport News: “It’s a local derby to a point and it will be a good test because they’re a league above and went really well last season.

“From our point of view, it’s about getting minutes into the players now.

“Results don’t really matter, it’s about implementing what we’re doing in the sessions and if that’s coming off, it’s ideal.”

Asked what his expectations might be going into pre-season, Herbst replied: “Just to play well and do what we’re setting out in training.

“Make sure we produce that on the pitch and we’ll be happy. We’ll make sure everyone gets the right minutes.

“You want to be competing but it’s not the be-all and end-all if we lose friendlies.

“If we’re happy with what we’re seeing on the pitch, I’d be confident the results will follow anyway.

“Pre-season is big for us and the players know that.

“From a manager’s point of view, we’re buzzing to get started because we’ve been planning sessions and now we want to see it on the pitch.”

Bridport are without Riley Weedon, Jake Childs (both hip), George Calverley (foot), Sol Ayunga (ankle) and Brad Rowe (shin).