Deal Town boss Steve King looks ahead to friendly at home to a Gillingham XI

Manager Steve King expects Deal to come up against a fit and technical young Gillingham side in their latest pre-season friendly.

The Hoops’ third warm-up game will see them face an outfit which will be representing League 2 Gills at the Charles Sports Ground tonight (7.45pm kick-off) - albeit with their first-team squad in Italy, there will be a youthful look to their team.

Southern Counties East Premier Division Deal drew 3-3 at Isthmian Premier Margate last weekend, having started their pre-season with a 5-0 home win over Minster in front of more than 300 people last Tuesday.

King said: “Gills offers a completely different test.

“They’re bringing down a young side that will be technically good and they’ll be very fit. So that’s going to give us a different test.

“We’ve set up the seven friendlies to try and take a little bit different out of all of them.

“It’s probably going to be more like Saturday in terms of the tempo and the intensity.”

Australian midfielder Matty Macarthur, who penned a professional contract last week, striker Ronald Sithole and goalkeeper Taite Holtam are among those who are expected to be involved for the Gills.

When the teams met this time last year, the Hoops ran out 3-0 winners.