Billericay Town and Southend United meet head-on in friendly action at New Lodge tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 3pm, in what should be a lively affair.

And there should be a big crowd in attendance as Billericay have slashed turnstile admission prices to just £3 for everyone as a token of gratitude for last season's excellent support.

Blues travel to their Ryman League Premier Division neighbours having just completed a week long workout at Suffolk airbase RAF Honington, and Shrimpers boss Alan Little is keeping an open mind about the match.

"A few of the lads are tired and blistered and I could be sending out a mixed side of youngsters and senior pros at Billericay," he said.

Blues have enjoyed mixed fortunes on the road this week, winning 2-0 at Conference League Kettering Town, before going down to a 2-0 practice match defeat at Second Division Cambridge United yesterday.

"We've had a busy week and I'll be expecting a very tough match at New Lodge," added Little.

"The match at Cambridge was a good exercise. We played three halves of 30 minutes to give everybody a game and lost to a penalty and free-kick late on in the last period.

"But their were a lot of positives to come out of the match and I need to think now about some of my players pushing on to get 90 minutes under their belts.

"We've got another game against Gillingham at Roots Hall on Tuesday night and I need to get the balance right, taking that match into consideration, before naming my side."

However, Little did reveal that striker Neil Tolson had recovered from his groin problems and would play some part at New Lodge.

Although, new defensive signing Phil Whelan was still suffering from back spasms and would have to wait a while longer to make his first competitive appearance in a Southend shirt.

Billericay are expected to field former Blues keeper Paul Newell against his old club tomorrow.

And the shot-stopper, who moved to New Lodge from Ryman Premier champions Dagenham and Redbridge over the summer, should also be joined by another fresh recruit from Daggers, defender Jeff Woolsey.

Billericay manager Gary Calder is also expected to run the rule over a number of trialists against the Shrimpers, as the non-leaguers begin their preparations for the new campaign.

After the game, Billericay take on tenants Chelmsford City, of the Dr Martens League, in friendly action on Tuesday, August 1, at New Lodge.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.