SLOUGH Town can set themselves up for a good season by putting points on the board in a busy August period, according to joint-manager Jon Underwood, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rebels

will get the new National League South campaign under way with a visit to Arbour Park from Dorking Wanderers, champions of the Isthmian League Premier Division last season, on Saturday 3rd August (3pm).

It will be the first of eight league fixtures that month for Slough, which

Underwood

believes is 'ridiculous', but it does give them the chance to build some early momentum.

Underwood told the Observer: "It is exciting when the fixtures come out but eight games in August is ridiculous, it's a fifth of the league season in one month.

"It's important that we start well and get some points in the bag and that will, hopefully, set us up for a good season.

"Dorking are an interesting team that have been promoted, they ran away with the Isthmian League last season. We know they're very well financed and got some big players that have been at a higher level.

"People might look at Dorking Wanderers as a small club, and they have been a small club, but they've had a real rise up through the divisions with some good financial backing and very good players.

"We've seen a little bit of them and will do our homework to find out what we can before we play, and I'm sure they will do the same with us.

"It will be an open, attacking game and a good one to watch. Whoever we drew, the first day is always a funny one, they are no easy results.

"At home, we will be looking to try and win to get off to a good start, but Dorking will be on the crest of a wave still from last season so it will be a tough game."

Slough continue their pre-season preparations with a visit to Arbour Park from National League club Sutton United this afternoon (Saturday, 3pm).

The Rebels will be without Warren Harris and Matt Briggs as well as Sam Togwell, who also missed the defeat to Eastleigh in midweek. Josh Jackman will continue his recovery from an abductor injury.

Simon Dunn and Manny Williams return to the squad from illness and injury respectively, but trialist Adam Richards suffered a broken toe in midweek and will not feature.