GARY Bailey believes tomorrow’s Sydenhams Wessex League Cup encounter at Moneyfields (3pm) has come at just the right time for his squad.

The Blues, who have not featured in competitive action since January 23 due to the weather, will look to get back up to speed in what the Grove Corner manager described as a “bonus game” for his team this weekend.

And, while he is still aiming to take the cup seriously against higher level opposition, the island boss is happy that his troops have a chance to get match minutes before continuing their push for the title in the league.

Bailey told Echosport: “It’s a good test of where we are at.

“They are a league above and it’s a bonus game for us if you like really.

“I am quite pleased it has come when it has actually because, after a spell without a game, it saves us having to go into a crucial league fixture undercooked.

“It gives us a good chance to have a shakedown in a game that, yes we will take seriously and is important to us because we want to win every game we play, but hasn’t got that pressure.

“We can go there nice and relaxed and it’s a good one to come back to without any pressure on us, we can kick-start our season again and get a run of games in the league after Saturday.”

Wessex Premier Division outfit Moneyfields currently sit 16th in their respective league above the Blues, with seven wins coming from their opening 19 league fixtures.

Portland skipper Lewis Whyton is set for a lengthy spell out after having keyhole surgery on his knee last week, but Bailey did reveal he was off crutches and on the road to recovery, hopefully for the business end of the campaign.

The only other concern in the Portland ranks is a thigh injury to Ross Doidge, who won’t be rushed back unnecessarily.

Bailey added: “Ross Doidge is still struggling a little bit with a thigh injury.

“We are not going to rush him for Saturday.

“If Ross needs a few more days to be fit before we go to Hythe & Dibden on Tuesday then that’s what we will give him.”