Croydon Athletic manager Tim O'Shea reckons this week's friendlies against three professional league sides is just rewards for his players' good start to training.

With two pre-season games gone, the Rams have recorded two 2-1 wins against higher league opposition in Dover Athletic and Maidstone United but will face much tougher tests at the KT Stadium this week when Brentford (Saturday, 3pm), Crystal Palace (Monday, 7.30pm) and Gillingham (Thursday, 7.45pm) come visiting.

"It's a real treat for the lads," said O'Shea.

"They have been working very hard with the fitness coach Dave Richardson and Neil Smith has been putting them through their paces too.

"It a nice opportunity for them to rub shoulders with some big names and you never know what kind of results will crop up in pre-season.

"The Brentford game was agreed as part of the Moses Ademola deal that took him to Griffin Park last summer and they say they will be coming down with a strong side.

"Neil Smith spoke to Jim Stannard at Palace yesterday and he has promised us there will be a few names in their team and then a full strength Gillingham side will be down on Thursday."