Walton Casuals boss Mark Hams has been assured that AFC Wimbledon will be bringing a near full-strength side to the Waterside stadium for this weekend’s pre-season friendly.

Following training matches against Kingstonian and Met Police, the visit of the Dons on Saturday will be the first proper test for the new manager’s team.

And despite the Dons having two games that day, at the Casuals (kick off noon) and at Sutton United (3pm), Hams is confident it will be a strong outfit.

“Getting a Football League club to come to us is great. People think of the Dons as a non-League side, but don’t forget, they are a Football League side.

“I spoke to them because I didn’t want to get mugged off with some under-strength side and they’ve assured me that they have a big enough squad to put out two strong sides.”

Hams has been running the rule over a crop of trialists, and he is now starting the painful process of letting players go.

He said: “I had about 40 players at the Met game, and I’ve got to lose about 15 ahead of Saturday.

“It is not easy, you need to have a thick skin in this job. There will always be people who think you’re an idiot for dropping them, but that is part of the job.”