EASTLEIGH’S squad will be put to the test this weekend, weather permitting, with both league and cup fixtures.

Number one priority is to get their promotion interest back on track with a trip down the M27 and a London 3 South-West win over promoted US Portsmouth.

The game will be staged on the all-weather pitch at Barnaby Road so should not be affected by the elements.

However, there is likely to be a late pitch inspection at Five Acres on Sunday where Eastleigh head to take on Millbrook in the Gales HSB Hampshire Plate.

New-look Eastleigh have two regulars, Adam Gallagher and Jak Evans, unavailable for the league match against USP but travel with a strong squad, full of confidence after victories over Farnham and New Milton.

But it will be a new-look Eastleigh who line up in the cup match the following day with an experimental mixture of seniors, first team fringe players and some making debuts all out to prove a point.

Vice skipper Russell Smith said: “We are down by two on Saturday but have people to fill in.

“We are going into it with confidence. If we can pick up this win then we’re certainly back on track for the promotion hunt as we’re only seven points behind second place anyway. However USP, especially when they are home, are a team that can turn anyone over so if we were to pick up the win we would be very happy.”

“If we did pick up five points at USP it would be mission accomplished as far as the weekend goes. We have a team sheet for Sunday and are only using six from the side that starts the league match .

“For the majority of guys playing on the Sunday, it will either be their debuts or they will have have played just a few games or been on the bench a bit.

“We are using it as a development game for those guys really. We thrive on our strength and depth and I have looked at the team sheet with Paul (skipper Paul Fudio) and we said ‘yeah, that’s decent’ so I think it will be a good test for us.”

Millbrook, promotion hopefuls and current leaders of Hampshire 1, will be treating the game as a marker to get a feel for life one tier up, should they be promoted.

Captain Mike Randell said: “We know this game is a tough one but it is also a good test for us.

“Our league ambitions are well known and therefore a challenge against opposition in the league above is ideal.

“The lads are keen to put in a strong performance this weekend.”