SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb is hoping that his side can provide a real test for Swindon Town in their opening pre-season friendly this afternoon.

The two sides meet at the Webb’s Wood Stadium (3pm) in what has become an annual curtain raiser for both clubs.

While the match will be a chance for supporters of both teams to cast their eye over the latest summer recruits and potential signings, Webb, whose side completed a 2-1 victory over Mark Cooper’s team last summer, knows they will be providing a good challenge for the League One outfit.

Supermarine also play host to Cooper’s Forest Green Rovers side to end their pre-season campaign and Webb believes the experience will be great for his young players.

“We have got a very tough pre-season on the field and off the field to get through,” he said.

“The games we have got are high quality and we are looking forward to it, starting off with Swindon (this afternoon).

“It is fantastic for us to get the opportunity to play against them.

“Not only for the players to play against professional footballers, but for the people to come to our stadium and look at how it is improving all the time.

“We look forward to it every season as a curtain raiser.

“We have also been very fortunate to get Forest Green Rovers this season, courtesy of the relationship with Mark Cooper and Scott Bartlett.

“We’re very fortunate to get the high level of friendlies that we get but those teams know that when they come to us, the facilities will be nice, the pitch will be lovely and they know that we will play the game in the right way.

“We want to play football and they know they will get what a pre-season game should be.

“It’s about getting your fitness and the result is irrelevant, really. It is also great experience for our players to play against that kind of quality.”