PORTLAND United manager Gary Bailey believes there is a “healthy respect” between his side and fellow high-flyers Blackfield & Langley.

The Blues have already faced off against Blackfield twice at Grove Corner this season, falling to 2-1 defeats in both the league and FA Vase this term.

Bailey believes his side “probably let them off the hook” in the previous encounters with the Watersiders this term and is looking forward to pitting his wits against the Wessex League big guns once again away from home on Saturday (3pm).

Reflecting on the previous fixtures, Bailey told Echosport: “The thing we could probably say we needed to do in those games was take our chances when we were dominating in the games.

“We probably let them off the hook, if I’m honest.”

He added: “I’d like to think they have a healthy respect for us.

“They will fancy themselves at home and they will think they are the favourites, and rightly so with the resources they have and it being a home fixture for them.

“We go up there as the underdogs but I’d like to think, over the two games we have played them, that we have earned the right for them to have that healthy respect.

“Hopefully we can go there and do ourselves justice and show that we warrant that respect.”

Bailey revealed that goalkeeper Sean Lillington is fully recovered from a thigh injury and is set to step back between the sticks for the Blues at Gang Warily. Jamie Beasley is still banned.

While he is still a few weeks away from a return to match action, Ed Bastick is set to start doing some light work this week, following a hernia operation.

A win for Portland this weekend would put them within a point of second-placed Blackfield, who fielded ex-Terras Sam Poole and Luke Winsper in their side in a 3-1 win over Hamworthy United last time out.