Chester FC manager Steve Burr expects tomorrow's final pre-season game with Crewe Alexandra to provide his team with a stiff challenge.
League One club Crewe will be bringing a full-strength squad to the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium (3pm) as both sides complete their fine tuning before the 2015-16 campaign begins.
Chester head into the game full of confidence following Wednesday night's 4-0 defeat of Liverpool under-21s, while the Alex have recorded six straight wins during pre-season, although Altrincham are the highest placed opposition faced.
"Crewe will be a good test for our boys," said Burr, whose team drew 1-1 with the Alex last pre-season when a John Rooney stunner cancelled out Chris Atkinson's opener.
"The Liverpool game was very pleasing. It was a great workout, I was delighted with the performance and obviously it was nice to get a few goals in front of a really good crowd.
"There was probably one or two who'd come maybe to see some bigger names who'd been mentioned earlier in the day but it was still a tough workout.
"I know it was a young Liverpool side but they're the stars of their future and you could see the quality they had. I was pleased with our organisation, we kept solid, we were very hard to break down and we've not concededed.
"Winning breeds good confidence within the camp and that's pleasing, and it gives confidence to the players as well."
IN PICTURES: Action from the Blues 1-1 draw with Crewe Alex last pre-season
Tomorrow's game will give 18-year-old midfielder Sam Hughes another chance to impress. Hughes has scored in the past two matches and signed his first professional contract on Wednesday prior to the win over Liverpool U21s.
Burr said: "We took four of the academy lads in and there was space for one. Sam's been the one who's really kicked on over these last few months and he's got a bright future I must admit.
"There's a lot happens to young lads but he's level-headed, he's very keen to do well, I've seen a lot of good things in training and he's earned himself a contract here.
"I'm delighted with the way he's progressed but now the work starts. He's doing really well."
Meanwhile, Crewe boss Davies has hinted he could tinker with his formation tomorrow as he makes final preparations for the 2015-16 opener against Port Vale.
Davis has sent his side out with a back four in all of the warm-up games so far – and the Railwaymen have been undefeated throughout.
But he has suggested he could start with three centre-halves against the Valiants at Gresty Road, and may try it out at some stage during the game with Chester.
He said: "We are looking at one or two different ways of setting up, we haven’t gone with a three yet but that’s something we are working on in training because that’s something we might revert to come the start of the season. We are looking at different systems to catch people out, we did that last season and it worked.
"We will look before the Vale game to see what the best system is for us to start with. They will be raring to go on that first day.
"The players who are going to start the season need to get as much game time as possible. The weekend will provide them with another 90 minutes."
