WHITE Ensign player-manager Brett Munyard believes tonight’s friendly with Great Wakering Rovers is the ideal preparation for this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Hashtag United.

White Ensign, who are second in the Eastern Senior League Division One South, travel to table-topping Hashtag on Saturday.

And Munyard is looking forward to seeing his side put through their paces at Burroughs Park tonight.

“We will go to Wakering with a very large squad and make sure everyone gets what they need from the game,” said Munyard.

“We have players coming back from injury and holidays who need the game time and players who have not featured too much recently who are eager to get some minutes and an opportunity to stake a claim for Saturday’s game with Hashtag.

“It’s hugely important that we give a good account of ourselves.

“We are playing an Isthmian North side and this will be a valuable lesson for everyone but, of course, Saturday is our focus and everything we do tonight is in preparation for Hashtag.”

Munyard also feels the friendly comes at a good time due to a lack of games in recent weeks.

“We had a fair bit of time off the pitch over the Christmas period,” added Munyard.

“The boys had a two week break, then a game and another Saturday off, so I feel we are still trying to get back into the swing of things.

“It’s also been hard to give all of the players time on the pitch because of only playing two games in a month and the importance of those games had made things even harder.”