PAUL Cox will be looking for a strong mind-set from his players when they take on Nottingham Forest Under-23s at Holker Street this afternoon.

Barrow are just two weeks away from the start of the National League season, and have four pre-season matches under their belts already.

Having looked at fitness over the past few weeks, and had the chance to see his charges in action together for the first time, the Bluebirds boss is looking for them to show mental toughness (3pm kick-off).

That will be especially key given the shortage of contracted players – an issue Cox has highlighted repeatedly over the past week.

Only 16 are under contract, with Byron Harrison having undergone surgery on his ankle earlier this week and Dan Cockerline being nursed back to fitness from a knee operation.

Added to that, Dan Jones picked up a dead leg in midweek, leaving the potential for just 13 signed on players to be available this afternoon – meaning many will have to play more minutes than would be optimal.

“We're looking more at the mind-set of the squad now,”said Cox. “But I'm aware that we're still quite a huge – for this time of year – set of numbers away from the finished squad.

“It's going to be a little bit different from last year – I know we brought one in late, with Byron (Harrison, the striker who signed two weeks before the start of last season), after this stage – and we really do need to fill a number of positions.

“We want to make sure we are going into at least the first few months of the season with a really balanced squad that has some strength-in-depth.

“The number of games we play, with the Saturday, Tuesday scenario, can really take its tool on you injury-wise. The main thing is that we go into the season with good numbers in depth.”

Trialists will be used and observed this afternoon to support the small core squad.

Cox's assistant Micky Moore, who took charge of the team in the 0-0 draw against Crewe on Tuesday night while the boss himself was scouting potential signings, has relayed messages to the manager about those trialists who featured in midweek.

Moore was pleased with the general display from the squad in that game, and felt he had seen players taking steps forward as the season fast approaches.

“The lads got more minutes who needed it, and I saw signs of progression from some and know where we are with some others,” he said. “A lot of it was positive.

“I would imagine that the supporters wouldn't pick many faults or negatives out of the game. When the game is 0-0, they want to see goals, but by and large it was a good spectacle.”