THIS evening's Premier Shield final could be a battle of the second strings as Steve White returns to the County Ground with his Chippenham Town side.

Swindon fielding a weakened side in the competition is par for the course, but with the Bluebirds closing in on promotion to the Conference South, White may opt to rest his key men and field the fringe players too.

He said: "All the way through the Premier Shield and the League Cup it's been our policy to freshen things up and give everyone the chance to have a game.

"This is a final and we want to win and everyone wants to play but we've got to select a side based on are upcoming games in the league."

Two players certain to miss out are Sam Jones who has a back injury and Mark Badman who aggravated an ankle problem in the recent defeat to Bath City.

Chippenham are currently five points clear in the Southern Premier with five games remaining.

Promotion remains the top target but White would love to defend the Shield he lifted last year the first silverware of his managerial career.

To do so at his spiritual home would be even sweeter.

It's his first competitive return since he scored the winner for Hereford in the 1995/96 Auto Windscreens Shield.

He said: "It's my first time back in a managerial capacity and I'm looking forward to it.

"We played them at our place in the final last year and things went our way.

"But I don't imagine we would ever start as favourites for the game against a professional outfit.

"It doesn't matter what sort of side they field they are full-time players training four times a week."