Barrow AFC midfielder Jason Taylor isn't taking it as given that the team picked in last Saturday's friendly against Sheffield United under-23s will be the same as the one for Saturday's National League opener at Wrexham.

Nonetheless, Bluebirds manager Ian Evatt will have been impressed with what he saw from his starting XI at Holker Street, as they gelled well in the first half during which they could have scored more than the two occasions they did.

Taylor was withdrawn just after the hour mark, as Evatt looked to give other other players a chance to stake their claim, but AFC's performance levels dropped in the closing stages.

The 32-year-old doesn't think that will necessarily make his selection choices easier, however, saying: "I don't think anyone in the team is set in stone just yet, but obviously the manager will have a better idea of who's going to be playing and that.

"It's just down to whoever gets hold of those shirts now for them to keep it because there's now a lot of good competition for places in the squad."

Barrow rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 victory over the young Blades, which means they go into the clash at the Racecourse Ground off the back of a positive performance, after some up-and-down form over the last few weeks.

Taylor said: "It's been a learning curve and everyone has been trying to build relationships, obviously, with all the new lads trying to gel and learning how the gaffer wants us to play.

"It's been a good test for us and hopefully everything we've learned and the new lads have learned can be taken into the new season.

"Pre-season can be a bit hard when there are loads of changes made that stop the rhythm of the game."