Match Preview: Shildon vs South Shields

South Shields head to County Durham on Saturday to take on Shildon in their latest pre-season fixture (3pm kick-off).

The Mariners are three games into their programme of friendly matches, having beaten Newton Aycliffe 2-0 and tasted defeats against Sunderland (4-3) and Hebburn Town (1-0).

With three weeks remaining until the start of the Vanarama National League North season, Shields will be looking to step things up against the Railwaymen.

The clubs met in the second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup last September, when a Lewis Alessandra hat-trick helped the Mariners to a 5-0 victory.

Shildon are readying themselves for a campaign in the Northern League after suffering relegation from the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division last time out.

Manager's views

Shields manager Julio Arca is looking to see progress from his team in Saturday's game.

He said: "It will probably be a similar type of game to the one we experienced on Tuesday against Hebburn.

"It will be good for the fitness side and gives us another opportunity to try different things, and to compete against teams like that.

"When the league starts, we'll come up against a lot of sides who are physical and work very hard, so we need to prepare.

"We've still got time and we need to take advantage of the next three weeks to prepare for the league."

A late Will McCamley goal was the difference in midweek as Shields were beaten at home by Hebburn.

Arca added: "We didn't seem to get going on Tuesday, but we learned a lot from it and it was a good exercise from a physical standpoint.

"These games are about learning from your mistakes and improving, and we've still got four games left.

"We take it as a learning process and we'll be looking for improvements on Saturday."

Team news

It is as yet unclear whether captain Blair Adams will be available after he was withdrawn in the first half of Tuesday's match as a precautionary measure.

Shields remain without midfielder Michael Woods as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Information for supporters

Kick-off at J Denham Metals Stadium at Dean Street is at 3pm and the post code of the ground is DL4 1EZ.

Admission prices are £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and free for under-12s with a paying adult, and entry is by cash only at the turnstiles.