SHRIVENHAM player-manager Sam Collier believes that Purton will provide his side the kind of test they will get week in, week out in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

The Barrington Park side entertain Justin Miller’s outfit this morning (11am) knowing that this contest will be more beneficial to his team than their midweek run out against Wiltshire League team Supermarine Sports.

With Miller building a strong squad for his first season in charge at Redhouse, many of his new players are former teammates from his time at Swindon Supermarine, Collier is looking forward to the match.

“Against Supermarine Sports we won 4-2, to be honest it could have been eight or nine,” Collier said. “It was good to get a few more minutes under the belts for the lads and for them to score a few goals.

“But Purton is more like what we will be facing every week in the league.

“Mutley (Miller) is putting together a strong squad and it will be a tough test for us.”

Shrivenham are still without Matt Bown after he sustained a thigh injury in the friendly against Chippenham Town and Collier said it is unlikely that he will feature until the new campaign gets underway on August 9.

The player-manager himself remains on the sidelines following knee surgery earlier in the summer.

Collier will see a specialist next week to discover how successful the operation was and if he will be able play at all this season.

Shrivenham have also signed Swindon Town second-year scholar keeper Aaron Moody for three months.

The young stopper will join up with the Barrington Park side in the final week of pre-season, while Collier is also hoping to sign former Wootton Bassett Town midfielder Sam Ockwell.

Purton boss Miller will use today’s match get a clearer idea of which players will remain at the Redhouse this term.

Over the past week, Purton have managed to re-sign central midfielder Steve May for another term, while pacy striker Jack Allen has joined from Division One West rivals Clanfield.

However, the club are sweating over the fitness of captain Marcus Hall as he set to see a specialist over a knee problem which could require surgery.

Purton go into today’s match on the back of a 5-2 defeat to Western League side Devizes Town.

And while disappointed with the scoreline, Miller said that he can take a lot from the game.

“We are experimenting with different formations and we will do it again against Shrivenham,” Miller said.

“I learnt so much from the Devizes game, so much more than from our other matches.

“We conceded a couple of soft goals from pass backs, but we did OK - obviously the result was disappointing - and we can take a lot from it.”