Alan Devonshire is expecting a different test from previous ones his team have had from Forest Green Rovers when they meet at the Miles Smith Stadium today.

They will meet in a Vanarama Conference Premier encounter (kick-off 3pm) with Forest Green placed ninth in the table and looking upwards to secure a play-off spot this year.

However, they will face a Braintree side that have put relegation fears behind them and hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks after winning eight of their last 11 games and six of their last seven.

They will be keen to extend that and take another step closer to the 50-point target that boss Alan Devonshire believes will guarantee their top-flight safety for a four season and will head into the game knowing they have enjoyed success against Forest Green in the last two seasons.

Braintree took four points off them over the home and away fixtures last year and won 3-1 the season before at their home venue, however, Devonshire is anticipating a different challenge after some additions to Rovers’ forward line this year.

He said: “It’s another expensive team coming in terms of money been spent on it.

“They are one of the favourites to go up again, so it will be a tough game.

“They have got good players, but it’s up to us to nullify that.

“I think they are playing slightly different now as they seem to have gone out and got some bigger players.

“They have Lee Hughes, (Jon) Parkin and (Kurtis) Guthrie up front and we may see them being a bit more direct in their play.

“So we’ll have to handle that and look to play our football when we get the opportunity to.”