Chelmsford City face a stern test this weekend when they take on Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road on Saturday.

They then host Gary Hill's new-look Dagenham & Redbridge side at New Lodge on Monday (kick-off 7.45pm).

Back into the reckoning for City will be the experienced winger Mark Greatorex, returning from holiday, although new signing Alan Vincent is still away.

City manager Gary Bellamy said the two games, plus Saturday week's friendly against landlord Billericay Town, will show how his players are shaping up for the coming season.

"I'm quietly confident that things are building up well," he said.

"Results at this stage are not important - it's more about individual performances and ensuring the side plays the football I will want to see during the season."

The City manager added: "Defensively we are now the strongest we have been since I arrived at the club with the new central partnership of John Bishop and John Girling in front of the capable Paul Catley in goal giving us a real solid base to work from.

'These next three games will provide us with the ideal platform on which to build for the all important opening league game at Fleet on August 14,'' he said. "That's the match that really counts and I know the players will be geared up for it."

One player who will not be in a City shirt this season is striker John Devine who, after two pre-season friendly matches, has left the club.

One newcomer who did impress in Saturday's match against Southend United was forward Ben Fuller, who last season played in the League of Wales while at university and has now returned home to Chelmsford.

"We will have competition for places too, which is also a good situation, and with more promising youngsters coming throu-gh the long term prospects for Chelmsford City look extremely healthy,'' Bellamy added.

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