Stamford AFC host Doncaster Rovers at the Zeeco Stadium

Daniels boss Graham Drury feels his squad are in a good place after a busy summer of recruitment at the Zeeco Stadium.

Stamford have signed eight new faces ahead of their Southern League Premier Division Central campaign.

Defenders Matty Miles, Herve Pepe, Kyle Rowley, Rhys Sharpe and Evan Payne have been joined by midfielders Luke Johnson and Jack Thomas plus returning attacker Cameron Johnson.

The newcomers form part of a 26-player squad which, including two trialists, have featured in their opening three pre-season friendlies.

However, Drury will be looking to cut back his playing ranks slightly after Saturday's home friendly with League One side Doncaster Rovers.

He said: "I think we're in a good place going forward, but I've got to be quite ruthless and get things narrowed down.

"I definitely need to cut it after Saturday so I can start working on shaping the squad, finding systems and patterns of play.

"We need to tidy it up but the problem you've got is that we've got holidays kicking in shortly and, if you narrow it too quick and too soon, you're flogging the boys to bits.

"I've just got to be honest to the guys that have done the business and to those who haven't quite made the mark."

Saturday's showdown with Doncaster is a second successive test against League One opposition for the Daniels after their 6-0 defeat against Peterborough United on Tuesday evening.

Drury wasn't impressed at the manner of the goals his side conceded in the friendly loss.

Stamford shipped four goals following corners and also conceded a penalty against their full-time neighbours.

He said: "I was disappointed because five of the goals, even the penalty, came from a dead ball.

"We were probably a bit ring-rusty but we've got to deal with the balls in the box better. We were outmuscled and out jumped.

"I thought we were a bit braver on the ball in the second half though."

The match attracted a crowd of more than 1,500 which, along with boosting the players' match fitness, is why the pre-season games take place.

Drury explained: "It is all about the finance of the football club and I thank everyone who has come out to support the game.

"We can't thank Peterborough enough for what they do for us to come down and bring their full side. Every year, it is such a big bonus for us.

"It was a shame that we didn't put on a better show but ideally I'd like it to be a bit longer into the pre-season.

"We will be more settled, sorted and organised and will have worked on stuff.

"They've had a two-week training camp and we've had two training sessions and then split the group across two games.

"We haven't done diddly squat yet on set plays or organisation and it's all been about pure fitness.

"It will be the same again against Doncaster on Saturday but I bring these games in purely to get us ready for the start of the league season.

"They are our best fitness sessions, better than any training session, because you're working all the time."

Saturday's match against Grant McCann's newly-promoted side gets underway at noon at the Zeeco Stadium.