NEIL Young has assured Chester FC fans that goalkeeper John Danby will be fit for Saturday’s mouthwatering Conference Premier opener at Barnet (3pm).

The Blues number one missed his side’s final two pre-season friendlies – Saturday’s 2-1 triumph over a Manchester City XI and Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Nantwich Town – with a sore finger.

But Chester manager Young said: “John is fit to play.

“He could have played Tuesday and Saturday, it was just a precaution.”

One player who definitely will not be featuring for the Blues at The Hive – Edgar Davids’ Barnet’s brand new ground – is Alex Titchiner.

The on-loan Fleetwood Town frontman has been dogged by an ankle injury but he should be fit for Chester’s first home game of the campaign against Hereford United on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Paul Linwood sat out the final warm-up match against Nantwich with a back problem.

Young is confident, however, the centre-back will be on the team coach that departs the Deva Stadium at 11.30am tomorrow morning.

The Blues boss is relishing the prospect of locking horns with former Ajax, Juventus and Barcelona midfielder Davids, who has chosen to remain as the Bees’ player-manager despite their relegation from the Football League.

“From a fan’s  perspective you could not  ask for a more exciting  start,” said Young, whose flamboyant opposite number will wear the number one shirt for Barnet this season.

“I would have preferred Halifax or someone we knew!

“But it’s exciting times  for the football club. The clubs we are going to be  playing this season compared to three years ago is unbelievable.

“That’s not being disrespectful because we’ve been to some fantastic little  clubs.

“But who’d have said three years we’d be back  playing against the likes of  Luton Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Wrexham,  Barnet and Hereford  United?”

Chester will train in Watford tomorrow afternoon before staying overnight in a hotel closer to The Hive.

Blues chief scout Alex Hay has been to watch the Bees in pre-season and has compiled a dossier for Young.

Davids’ side have two tall centre-backs but otherwise lack height.

Hay has told Young to be wary of Barnet’s speedy wingers.

Skrill, one of Europe’s largest payment systems and among the world’s largest independent wallet providers with more than 35 million account holders, have been announced as the new title sponsors of the Football Conference.

The league’s three divisions have been renamed the Skrill Premier, Skrill North and Skrill South.