He said the Border’s new NPL1 club would struggle with what was largely a development squad but expected to get a handle on the mental strength and determination of his available players.

Murray United will play the recently promoted North Geelong Warriors tomorrow night before tackling the FFA Cup semi-finalists on Sunday from 6pm at LaTrobe University.

With the start of the competition just a month away Richards, who took over the reigns at the club just four weeks ago, said it was a race against the clock.

“Realistically we are well behind the other clubs — we have been back in training for two weeks and have a string of senior players nursing niggling injuries,” he said.

“Some of the boys would be right to play if it was an AWFA game but at the pace which these games will be played they’d be lucky to last 20 minutes.

“Even with our best team on the park we would struggle against the quality we’ll face this weekend.

“But what it will show me is the mental toughness, willingness of those who do play.

“If we can play with the resolve of a team that works for each other, we’ll go a long way to having a good year.”

Richards said his squad would include a host of development players alongside some of AWFA’s best in recent years.

Kade Rixon, who sat out last winter, will play half a game for Murray United in a team that is also likely to include James Coutts, Andrew Grove, Dan Millynn and Josh Fluss.

“We know we are underdone at this stage but my aim is to get a gauge on who is out there and have some fit and healthy bodies ready for the start of the season at the end of February,” Richards said.