HIGHLY-RESPECTED ex-Salisbury defender Scott Bartlett is bringing a string of youngsters from Forest Green Rovers to the Ray Mac for a friendly.

Head of Youth Development Bartlett, who made more than 400 appearances in almost nine years with the Whites, has arranged for a Forest Green XI to play the Whites on Friday (May 22) at 7.30pm.

Steve Claridge is using the fixture as an opportunity to test out further trialists ahead of assembling a squad for their Wessex League Premier venture, which gets under way on August 8.

“This is a good chance for me to continue the process of forming my squad for next season,” said Steve, whose side is yet to be beaten under his stewardship.

“Now we know that we are going to be in the Wessex Premier, we have a clearer picture of the type of player we need and that we can afford.

“It’s good of Scott to bring a Forest Green side down and they will offer just the sort of good competitive opposition we need.”

Entrance on Friday is again "pay what you want" as the club is hoping to welcome a sizeable crowd ahead of footing the bill for crucial ground work this summer.

The Whites welcome Darrell Clarke's Bristol Rovers to Old Sarum on Saturday, July 11.