GRIMSBY Town's Scott Kerr is hoping 'Bradford City reserves' can spring a surprise against the Bantams tonight (7.30pm).
The midfielder is one of four players in the Mariners squad who count the West Yorkshire outfit as one of their former clubs.
Ross Hannah, Scott Neilson, Joe Colbeck and Kerr could all feature when Phil Parkinson brings his squad to Blundell Park as part of preparations for their first season back in League One.
And Kerr – who signed his first ever pro deal at Valley Parade – is looking forward to the clash – which will also be his home debut, following a summer move from York City.
"We're looking forward to it," he said. "It will be the first time that we'll have played at home in pre- season and, hopefully, we'll get a decent crowd in and put on a good performance.
"It's like Bradford City reserves at Grimsby at the minute! So there's a few of us looking forward to facing our old club tonight.
"It's always good to test yourself against the better teams like Bradford and Hull because you get more out of it."
Kerr played the full 90 minutes of the 3-0 defeat to Scunthorpe in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup at the weekend.
It was his first full game for nearly four months after injury curtailed the end of his time at York.
Rob Scott and Paul Hurst used to game to experiment with a 4-3-3 formation – a system Kerr and former Minstermen team-mate Paddy McLaughlin are well familiar with.
It's a line-up that Kerr has enjoyed success with at this level – winning the promotion and FA Trophy double with Gary Mills side back in 2012.
"Me and Paddy played in that system for a year and a half and it works – simple as that," he continued.
"If you do it right, it's enjoyable to play in as players and enjoyable for the fans to watch.
"There's maybe a couple here who aren't used to playing in that system but they're good footballers and are taking to it well.
"The more we play it and the more confidence we all gain with it, the better we'll become.
"It's about the lads buying into it and I thought they did that well against Scunthorpe.
"We had plenty of the ball and it went well. If we continue with it again tonight, I'm sure we'll get chances."
Tickets for the game are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for concessions. For more information, see www.gtfc.co.uk.
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