EASTLEIGH boss Richard Hill admitted pre-season is “always a headache” in the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by classy League Two outfit Oxford United.

The Spitfires shipped two late first-half goals against Michael Appleton’s Us but, in their defence, they are unlikely to encounter many sides of that calibre in the Vanarama National League.

“Are we going to come up against many teams like that? I don’t think so,” said Hill. “No disrespect, but I’d like to think Newport County (beaten 2-1 at Eastleigh last Tuesday) are more in keeping with the teams we’ll be coming up against.

“Pre-season has its purpose but it’s always bit of a headache especially when you’ve got an experienced bunch of players who know it’s for the fitness and know it (the real action) doesn’t really start until two weeks’ time.

“Do you play teams below you or do you play teams above who you who are going to test you and test your fitness?

“There’s no magic solution but when teams like Newport, Oxford and Barnet say they want to play us, we’re not going to say no, especially when it brings a bit of finance into the club as well.

“Oxford were decent. They knocked the ball around nicely and, right from the start, they caused us a few problems.

“But there was a spell when we should have scored one goal at least. We had two very good chances.

“But we conceded from a debatable free kick and then lost our discipline a bit and conceded a second.”

The Spitfires have a different sort of challenge ahead of them tomorrow night (Tuesday, 7.45pm) when they visit phoenix club Salisbury FC who, under the guidance of Steve Claridge, are looking to climb the leagues again following the demise of the old Salisbury City.

As promised, Claridge has scoured the area for some bright, young talent and has now boosted his squad to 17 with the addition of Matt Burt, George Colson, Mark Ford and Kane O’Keefe, who all agreed deals following last week’s 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth’s under-21s.

A former Itchen College student, Burt - a 6ft 2in centre-half - began his career with Fareham Town before moving on to Folland Sports and briefly upping sticks to James Taylor’s Team Solent towards end of last season.

Former Portsmouth academy midfielder Colson, also 21, was with Newport IoW last term and will be used by Claridge primarily as a right back.

Ford, scorer of Whites’ winner against the young Cherries, has been a prolific scorer over several seasons.

Based in Blandford, the 25-year-old frontman joined Blackfield & Langley from Weymouth last season and netted six times in 11 appearances for John Robson’s men.

O’Keefe, a midfield powerhouse, also impressed against the young Cherries last week. A local Salisbury boy, the 26-year-old was with Laverstock & Ford last term having parted company with Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Eastleigh boss Hill plans to take a full squad to the Ray Mac with the possible exception of left-back Michael Green (pulled bottom muscle) and striker Ross Lafayette (dead leg), but he has indicated that young trio Tony Lee, Jack Masterton and Jack Smith will get more minutes than his senior players.

 Assistant manager Chris Todd may also make a cameo appearance against his old club.

The Spitfires have one last home friendly remaining against promoted Conference champions Barnet on Saturday (August 1, 3pm).