PORTLAND United manager Gary Bailey insists his players will not be taking their foot of the gas despite wrapping up the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One title on Saturday.

They are back in action tonight when they visit second-placed Amesbury Town (7.45pm) and he wants to keep up their good run of form.

He said: “We’ve got three games to go and we want to keep our record going.

“We are setting ourselves little goals in the dressing room and make sure we stay focused.”

The Blues are on a 10-match unbeaten run since their 2-0 defeat to Laverstock & Ford back in March but Bailey is aware of the danger Amesbury possess.

“We’re expecting a tough game,” he explained. “They’re second and they’re still fighting for it.

“We’re going to go up there and certainly not start chucking things in.

“We will regroup and make sure we are nice and relaxed so we can give a good account of ourselves.

“We’re the champions of the league now and every time we go out there, we’ve got to perform like that.

“These boys won’t just turn up and go through the motions, they’re not of that nature.”

The island side had a hectic schedule last week, playing four games in seven days. But Bailey feels the small break will have done his players the world of good.

“We will be nice and refreshed heading into the game, we’ve had four days’ rest so we will be raring to go.”

With a small squad at his disposal, the manager will not have the luxury of rotating his side.

But the Portland boss still wants to put his strongest XI out on the field tonight. He added: “I’ll play the people who are the fittest. We have a small squad, and we will have a look to see who is carrying the fewest knocks and see who is looking the freshest.

“Hopefully Gareth Will is set to be involved after his knee injury and Tom Richardson will come into the squad, but the nucleus of the side will stay very much the same.”