NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth is relishing the opportunity of pitting his side against a full strength League Two outfit tomorrow as Spytty Park gets braced for the battle of the champions.

The Exiles can be ready for a stern test indeed as Conference National winners Stevenage visit Newport Stadium for their final warm-up game before they make their debut in League Two on August 7.

The trip to Newport represents Stevenage’s final friendly before the big kick-off and manager Graham Westley is expected to include all of his first team players in what is a mouth watering clash for the Spytty Park faithful.

The Exiles are now pretty much set firm for the new season with no more signings expected and Holdsworth is looking to continue the imperious home form that helped carry his side to a record points haul of 103 in the Blue Square South last term.

“This a great game for us, Stevenage are a great barometer having won the league we’re going into this season,” he said.

“When the chance came to stage this game it was a chance I jumped at. The contest really, really appeals to me because Stevenage have done exactly what we want to do,” he said.

“I have been in regular contact with (Stevenage manager) Graham Westley and we’ve spoken a lot about what it takes to win the Conference.

“He has his ideas and I have mine and he’s someone I enjoy bouncing ideas off.

“His side is the perfect yardstick for us and I am very hopeful we can show just how competitive we’re going to be next season by producing a good performance.”

However, while Holdsworth is relishing tomorrow’s contest, he is also preparing for the new season without one of his key players.

County travel to Darlington on August 14 and will almost certainly do so without midfield dynamo Wayne Turk, who is losing his fitness battle ahead of the new campaign.

Turk has suffered a knee ligament injury and while he could well be physically able to play at Darlington, he’s now lost too much game time to be considered match fit for the new campaign.

“Turky is struggling, his knee isn’t quite right and I think it’s fair to say we can rule him out for the start of the season,” Holdsworth said.

“He’s behind the other boys now for fitness and match sharpness and there isn’t too much we can do other than wait until the knee is right.

“He won’t feature tomorrow and he’s not going to be ready for the middle of August.”

The Exiles will feature New Zealand international Greg Draper again tomorrow, the striker causing a buzz after being announced rather mysteriously as ‘a triallist’ in Wednesday’s testimonial for Nathan Davies.