SCOTT Bartlett returns to his old Salisbury City stamping ground this evening (7.30pm).

The highly-respected ex-Salisbury defender is bringing a string of youngsters from Forest Green and former players 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, will have former Salisbury legends Rob Sinclair and Matt Tubbs in the dugout to assist him, although they’ll only be restricted to a coaching capacity with Bartlett.

“I’m looking forward to the game," said Bartlett.

"Although it’s late in the season it gives our young players an opportunity to play in front of a good crowd, something we can’t replicate very often at youth level.

“Some of the second year Academy players we have released have been fantastic servants to FGR and this game puts them in the shop window and gives us an opportunity to help them find first team football.”

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.

Claridge told the Hereford TImes: “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.”

Claridge is certain Sinclair and Tubbs will be afforded a warm welcome.

He added:“It will be nice for fans to see some club legends returning. We’ll introduce them on the pitch so everybody can say thank you to them both for coming down and for what they did for the club.”

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.