ASSISTANT manager Ashley Vincent reckons today’s trip to Redditch United (3pm) will help to gauge where Worcester City’s players are ahead of the new season.

City have started pre-season with three successive away wins as they beat Malvern Town 2-0, Worcester Raiders 8-1 and Dudley Town 5-1.

But Vincent admits Redditch will provide City with their first “realistic yardstick” as they look to measure themselves against higher-ranked opposition before the start of the Midland League Premier Division campaign.

Redditch play two levels above Worcester in the Evo-Stik League South Premier Central and remain undefeated after four warm-up matches.

“We want to win games and if we are performing well and scoring goals then that is fantastic too as it only breeds confidence,” Vincent said.

“The boys have shown what they can do but we now want to see whether they can do it against a side at a better level.

“Redditch are a couple of standards higher and the boys in the dressing room believe they are at that level so they have now got a chance to prove that.

“I think it will be more of a realistic yardstick.

“I am a bit wary of pre-season because teams field different sides and some play trialists.

“But you can only play who is in front of you and that happens to be Redditch.”

Converted midfielder Tyler Weir is set to play against his former club having spent the latter part of last season on a dual-registration deal with Redditch.

Striker Jordan Harrison will look to score for the fourth successive game while goal-shy forward Kyonn Evans will be keen to open his account.

Vincent said he was also looking forward to seeing Worcester’s three trialists in action again after the unnamed trio featured at Dudley in midweek.

“The three trialists have got quality and the gaffer (John Snape) has given them the chance to come in and train with us,” he said.

“The midfielder, winger and centre-half were all involved on Wednesday night.

“The centre-half has been with us from the start. He has done very well and got himself really fit.

“The winger only came in on Wednesday but showed what he was about when he came on for the final 20 minutes.

“It is just a case of them training and then seeing if anything comes of it.”

When asked about recruitment, Vincent added: “I am sure there will be some names that crop up over the next couple of weeks when it gets closer to the season.

“But from my point of view I am more than happy with what is in the dressing room at the moment.

“We have got a lot of quality and a good set of characters so I am looking forward to continuing working with them.”