Swindon boss expects tough Forest Green test

So far Swindon have played Supermarine, Banbury and Devizes as they prepare for the new League One campaign, and while they have all been useful workouts, tonight's match against the Conference side is their first real test.

While fitness is still the key with over three weeks still to go until the opening day clash with Peterborough, MacDonald also believes he is going to start learning about the football side of things.

"It's a tough game because they are well-respected and have done well in the Conference recently, and this game gives us a measure of where we are fitness-wise," he said.

"That's the big thing for us at the moment because there is still three weeks until the start of the season and we don't want to be peaking yet.

"After the game we will know a lot more about it and also a lot more about where we are in the football side of things as well."

Town are set to again be without Alan Navarro, who has had a scan following further trouble with his knee, but Luke Rooney and Kayden Jackosn could return following an illness and a slight knock respectively.

New signings Nathan Byrne and Alex Pritchard are unlikely to feature and winger Tijane is unable to play as he waits for international clearance which is expected to arrive in the coming days.

Trialists Youssef Sofiane and Daniel Devine could also be involved, with MacDonald expecting to make a decision one way or another on both players by the end of the week.

The Town boss now has his squad training earlier in the day to avoid working in the heat of the day and believes the decision could benefit the players in the long run.

"It's very warm at the moment and we have decided to train early in the morning to try and get finished before the real heat kicks in," he said.

"The players appreciate that I think, and it also means we are able to get a bit more work done because your strength can be sapped in this weather. So it also gives us a little more time to recover.