Stafford Rangers will blood a number of first-team players in the reserve game against Bromsgrove in a bid to get them fit for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Manager Chris Brindley is set to field a strong team at Marston Road tonight (7:45pm), before running the rule over the squad for the final time in tomorrow’s night training session.

The Rangers boss is primarily hoping defender Nick Amos and goalkeeper Lee Evans will play some part in the second-string fixture, to see whether they have any chance of making Saturday’s trip to Vauxhall Motors and Bank Holiday Monday’s visit of Solihull Moors.

Evans is desperate to get his season up and running after missing the first five games of the Blue Square North season with a foot injury, the second time he has been sidelined since signing from Chasetown in the summer.

And how his team need him – with Tom Harrison also out with an ankle problem, young Danny Allen is the only fit keeper on the books.

Amos has not played since the first home game of the season against Corby after suffering a badly bruised rib, with skipper Bobby Wilson deputising at centre-half.

Brindley will also use tonight’s Central Conference opener to start players in his squad needing valauble game time, with the likes of Jon Patrick, Darren Alexander, Craig Hulme and Eugene Francis all likely to feature.

The manager said: “The start of the reserve season has fell nicely this year. Any players who haven’t had much game time or are short of fitness will play in that game. For the lads who haven’t playing regularly, it’s a chance for them.

“We have got few injured players who are on their way back, so I am hoping some of them will play a part. We will have to see what happens tonight and tomorrow night, then there will be a clearer idea of who is available for the weekend.

“If we can get everybody back that would be great, competition for places is always good.”

Winger Luke Morgan will miss the game, but is likely to train tomorrow night in his bid to return from injury.