United set for big kick-off

A trip to the defending champions would not have been the preferred first pick of many United fans but Walker believes that his new-look side can rise to the occasion at Windsor Park (3pm).

"It's an opportunity for us to see what we have got against the best team in the country," Walker told Times Sport.

"We will try to be as expansive as we can without baring our soul completely.

"I don't think we're a good enough team to go up there and go totally gung-ho but we will be looking closely at areas where we feel we might get joy if we get the ball into those areas.

"We will be working closely with the team for Saturday this week and we have a few wee things to look at."

Despite an indifferent pre-season campaign – which featured defeats at the hands of Limavady United, the Northern Ireland Junior International team and St Mirren – Walker is upbeat ahead of the campaign.

"It has been the express purpose of preparing us for August 7 – it's not about results.

"We've looked at players and it has been a bit fractious because we have had trialists out in every game that we wanted to have a look at which hasn't allowed us to do what we might ordinarily want to do.

"I know we will be fit enough – we proved that against St Mirren when we weren't flagging against full-time players."

The manager will assess the fitness of winger Mo McDowell, who is sidelined with a groin/abductor muscle problem and it is also hoped that Albert Watson will have recovered from a facial injury which forced him off in the opening minutes of the St Mirren game.

Definitely out, however, is Mark Surgenor, who begins a two-match suspension carried over from the end of last season.

Seven Towers Supporters' Club transport to Windsor Park leaves Henry Street car park at 1.45pm.

Ballymena fans will occupy the Kop stand due to ongoing renovation work on the North stand. United fans should enter via Boucher Road as normal.

Walker will continue to monitor Nathan Hanley, the former Hull City apprentice, who played on Saturday, while former Bradford City youngster Rory Carson remains an active target.

"Rory has been injured – he had been playing in games with a heavily strapped ankle and I have been giving myself time to make the right, objective decision."

Walker will not, however, be following up his interest in Ghanaian Emmanuel or Canadian Paul Ballard, who had both been on trial.