BALLYMENA United players and officials will set out on Friday afternoon for their two game tour of Scotland.

The team will be based in the Castle Hotel in Stranraer, beside the port of the town, and will play two games over the coming weekend - before returning to Northern Ireland on Sunday. On the Friday evening (20th) the Braidmen will face local junior side - Stranraer Athletic and the following afternoon will face Scottish Third Division side, Stranraer at Stair Park.

Manager, Wright, is expected to take a large squad of players over to Scotland for what he hopes will be a successful team-bonding trip as well as preparation for the season ahead. The Sky Blues kicked-off their pre-season campaign with a comfortable win against Portstewart on Saturday, at the North Coast.

Darren Fitzgerald was among the goals, as well as Dundalk-based Paudie Hearty who was recommended to Wright by Dundalk natives; Simon Kelly and Paul Murphy. Hearty played the entire second half and tucked away a last minute goal. Wright has been trying to tie up a contract with the Southerner this week and he could be joined on tour by a fellow striker from the Eircom League.

It is unclear, however, if former Portsmouth midfielder Daryl Fordyce will travel with the squad after training with the team this week, as Portadown, Glentoran and Newry City are believed to be interested in the player. The Northern Ireland Under-21 international was recently on trial at Crewe Alexandra and Wright is keen to get him on board for the coming season.

Kevin Kelbie will travel from his home in Stirling and meet up with the squad on Friday, after being flown over for the Portstewart tie, where the Scot looked lively. Aaron Callaghan is also expected to return to the side after be called up by Roy Millar for the Northern Ireland select side that were beaten by Everton on Saturday. We now look closer at this weekend's opponents.

20th July - Stranraer Athletic

After negotiations with a number of Scottish clubs in the region, South of Scotland league side, Stranraer Athletic agreed to host the Sky Blues on the Friday evening. The club was formed in 1995 to try and give the locals of Stranraer a better chance of competitive football with the senior side bringing in players from outside the town. Athletic play their home matches at Stranraer Academy school in the town.

Athletic won three consecutive league titles in recent years but have gone two years without a championship. However, last season Sandy Sutherland's side picked up two trophies - the Haigs Gordon cup and the Potts cup.

Friday night's match is to be played at Stair Park with a 7pm kick-off.

21st July - Stranraer FC

After the success of last season's trip to Stranraer, the Sky Blues return to face the Stair Park Blues once again. Managed by former Celtic midfielder, Gerry Britton, Stranraer were relegated from the Scottish Second Division last season in the cruellest of fashion as they lost in the semi-finals of the relegation play-off in May.

Stranraer are already four games into their pre-season campaign with defeats against Gretna and Queen of the South followed up by a defeat to a Motherwell select last Tuesday. It has been a rebuilding job for Britton after relegation last term as more than a dozen players have left Stair Park in the summer, including local hero Michael Moore who has joined neighbours Ayr United. They however have been replaced by a number of experienced players and young players aimed at taking Stranraer back up at the first attempt.

The main man to look out for in this Stranraer side is new signing Pat Keogh who was a summer signing from Hamilton Academical. The 30-year-old striker was also at Partick Thistle and made his first appearance in a blue shirt against Gretna two weeks ago. He has the unenviable task of filling the boots of Michael Moore.

Last season the two sides met at Stair Park for a pre-season friendly, in a game were nearly 200 United fans travelled to Scotland for the day. The game produced an intertaining 1-1 draw, as David Hamilton put the home side in front with a penalty only for Kevin Kelbie to head home United's equaliser with five minutes remaining.

Saturday's match is to be played at Stair Park with a 3pm kick-off. Supporters are reminded there will be no alcohol allowed into the ground.