PORTLAND United boss Simon Browne is bidding to knock Newport “out of their stride” when they visit Grove Corner in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division tomorrow (3pm).

The Port have won their past two games after replacing former manager Andy Sampson with interim boss Mike Kelly last week.

But Portland come into the game having beaten Baffins Milton Rovers 6-0 in their last league fixture.

Despite losing 1-0 to Horndean in the FA Vase on Tuesday night, Browne is aiming to provide Newport with a “sterner test” than in previous games.

He told Echosport: “It looks like we’ve picked a bad time to play them. They decided to dispense with their manager and they’ve won their last two.

“They obviously have a little bit of a change in approach with a change in manager.

“They’ve been having a bit of a tough time and we’ll try and take advantage of that and maybe knock them out of their stride. Hopefully we’ll be a far sterner test.”

With the visitors undertaking a long journey from the Isle of Wight, Browne believes the trip might work in their favour.

“You accept it’s going to be a long day and sometimes you feel a little bit less pressure on the game and are more determined to get a result,” he said.

The Blues are set to welcome Ryan McKechnie back and could have Ashley Smith (illness) and Ross Doidge (bereavement) available after the trio missed the Horndean defeat.