WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley plans to “expose” his players to discover chinks in their armour during the final five matches of the 2023/24 season.

The Terras are virtually safe and could wrap up their place in the Vanarama National League South with a victory at Maidstone United this evening (7.45pm) plus other results falling kindly for them.

They face a Maidstone side whose run to the fifth round of the FA Cup lit up the competition, famously defeating Championship promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town en route to a 5-0 defeat by Coventry.

Fourth-placed Maidstone are also assured of a play-off spot and will be looking to finish in the top three to avoid an extra game, concurrently booking a home tie.

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Commenting on this evening’s opponents, Molesley told Echosport: “A huge football club, having a fantastic season, an unbelievable cup run and are rightfully up in the higher reaches.

“They’ll be trying to finish as high as they can for their play-off. That’s what we want. We’re not hiding anything here. We’re not covering up, closing up just to scrape a result.

“We’re going to expose the players and I want them to expose themselves as well because anything that goes wrong we can have a look and be better going forward.

“We will probably forgive a result or two to try and be better in the long run. The players are afforded the luxury of that by performing well this season to almost cement their place.

“We’re going to be doing everything we can to win the game but we’re also not going to be hiding anything.

“If there’s any chink in our armour, we’re going to find it. We’ll risk the result to find out more about this group.

“They look like a group that wants to be challenged and look like they can go on and do some good things.

“So, I’m super excited and enthused by the group. I hope we can get them through these games in such a short turnaround and quite a skeleton squad.”

Weymouth right-back Teddy Howe was taken off at half-time in the 1-0 loss at Eastbourne and will be assessed with a groin problem prior to facing the Stones.

Molesley added: “Unfortunately, Teddy’s felt a bit of a tight groin which he’s been nursing and done well to get through.

“We definitely couldn’t take any more risks. I just hope it settles well because he’s a really important player for the group and we need each and every one of them.”

Weymouth head to Kent in 15th, eight points above the drop zone with a tally of 51.