Excitement building for United boss

The Hastings manager has enjoyed a full and productive pre-season in stark contrast to last summer when he had to cobble together a team, and believes he now has a squad capable of doing well in the new Ryman Division One.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how we perform. I am quite excited about the league this year. Last season there was a lot of apprehension because we didn't know how it was going to go. This year I'm pretty sure how it will go if we perform to how I know we can," said Lovell.

"If we play to our full potential and get everybody back and fighting for places then I think we've got a good squad and a chance of having a good season."

Although Lovell admits he knows very little about the opposition that awaits his team following the close season re-organisation of Non-League football, he is still aiming high.

"As a manager you set yourself the highest possible target you can so if you fall just below it then you've still had a good season, but I don't want to finish second I want to finish top and I think with the bunch of lads that we've got at the moment and if perhaps I can bring in one or two as the season goes on, if I need to, we are good enough to definitely have a challenge at this league even though I don't know much about it."

Lovell has a starting XI in mind for Saturday August 14 but it all depends on the availability of two players. Central defender Richard Bolton was pencilled in but a groin strain picked up at the weekend means Steve Smith may line up alongside Peter Mortley, while it is unclear whether Gillingham youngster Jon Wallis will be able to take his place in midfield. Wallis did play in a friendly match for Folkestone Invicta but "he didn't particularly enjoy it down there," according to the Hastings boss.

Peter Sayer will once again play in the hole behind forwards Chris Honey and Carl Rook, while the rest of the team will include full backs Jimmy Elford and Russell Eldridge, and midfielders Ryan Peters and Steve Ringwood. Another Gillingham player Danny Knowles will be in goal with Greg Nessling on the bench alongside the likes of Mitchell Sherwood, Peter Taylor, Steve Sands and Steve Hafner. Summer signing Alan Tutton is unavailable until the following weekend.

Fleet finished bottom of the old Dr Martens Eastern Division last season but the arrival of former England midfielder Andy Sinton and several other signings suggests they have got high hopes this time around.

"Looking at Fleet, they've had quite a good pre-season, they've signed a few players and they are not going to be as easy as they were towards the end of last season. Andy Sinton has come in and changed things around and I'm sure they will be a good young side wanting to play football," said Lovell.

"It will be a good game, it will be a tough game but I'm sure if we play as we can do then we shouldn't have a problem."

Hastings are also in action on Tuesday when they visit Banstead Athletic.

Paul Tuppenney has now committed himself to Sussex Division One outfit Rye & Iden United after initially signing for Hastings.