TAUNTON Town play the third friendly match of their pre-season campaign tonight - and could come up against a Taunton-born ex-Manchester United player.

The Peacocks welcome Exeter City to the Viridor Stadium for a 7.30pm kick-off, with the Grecians set to include Lee Martin in their squad.

Martin joined the League Two club this week, the Taunton-born midfielder having begun his career at Manchester United before becoming a reliable Football League operator.

Grecians manager Matt Taylor will look to give Martin - and fellow new signing Jimmy Oates - some minutes at the Viridor tonight.

They are unbeaten in pre-season so far, beating Truro City, Bath City and Weymouth, and they will look to emulate last year's 3-0 win over the Peacocks.

But hosts Taunton are in good form themselves, dispatching Willand Rovers 5-0 and then seeing off a Plymouth Argyle XI by the same scoreline on Tuesday of this week.

Manager Leigh Robinson is still on holiday - so the home side will be overseen by his assistant Michael Meaker and coach Rob Dray.

Midfield maestro Ryan Brett and targetman Matt Wright are in Sweden, so will also miss the match.

But the absence of skipper Wright presents an opportunity for Dan Sullivan and Alpha Sow, plus a couple of triallists, to impress as part of the front three alongside Andrew Neal and Craig Veal.

Neal and Veal have been in the goals against Willand and Plymouth, with Neal looking especially effective in the latter match.

Relentless in his harrying of defenders, intelligent in his passing and ruthless in scoring twice, ex-Truro City striker Neal appears to be a very astute signing.

This will be the Peacocks' biggest test of pre-season so far, but there are reasons to believe that they can give as good as they get against the Grecians.

Adult tickets for tonight's game are £7, concessions £5, under-18s £2, and season ticket holders and under-14s get in free.

There will be a minute's silence in honour of Brian Troup, a former Taunton Town goalkeeper who passed away recently.