Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright ready for National League South opener against Slough Town, managed by former Gillingham team-mate Alan Julian

Manager Josh Wright will be looking to get the better of a former team-mate when his Ebbsfleet side kick off the new season at Slough Town on Saturday.

Wright and Slough boss Alan Julian were part of a play-off winning Gillingham team and the pair will be hoping to start their respective National League South campaigns off with a win.

Looking ahead to what will be Julian’s first game in charge of Slough, Wright said: “He’s obviously had to sign a lot of new players and probably change their style and ways a little bit. We’re in a little bit of the unknown. They’ve relaid the pitch there, it’s a really tough place to go.

“Last year, we started at Dagenham away, who were probably the favourites, and we went and won. We’ll be going there with all the ambitions and vision to start off with the three points but nothing’s won in one game.

“I’m really pleased with where we’re at. Still, obviously, work to be done and stuff to work on but I couldn’t have asked for much more than the boys have given me so far.”

The Fleet boss takes his side to Arbour Park looking to build on an encouraging pre-season.

A busy summer saw Wright’s side complete a 10-game pre-season with a competitive match against the Gills, which ended in a 2-1 loss.

“You can never judge too much in pre-season,” said Wright. “You could win every single game you play, or lose every single game you play, and the season could be the complete opposite.

“But what I’ve seen day-to-day around the place, the mindset and the mentality of the group, the training, what they’re giving, the running, the togetherness, everything that you want and then a lot of moments within games.

“There’s a lot of positives to take, and there’s a lot of excitement. I’ve got a really good group