LEE FOWLER insists pre-season results are important and the Radcliffe manager wants another victory in tomorrow's latest friendly - regardless of the opposition.

Boro boss Fowler had two spells as a player at Wrexham, whose arch rivals Chester travel to The Neuven Stadium for their first match as part of the Blues' build-up to the 2020-21 National League North season.

Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Radcliffe are well into their pre-season programme and Fowler wants to continue the unbeaten run with a win.

"There is obviously a little bit there with Wrexham-Chester but I just want to win every game, it doesn't matter who it is against," said Fowler.

"I have said to the lads that every game is a derby, every game matters, every game is a potential three points or if we can't win, we don't lose.

"That is the mentality we are building here.

"We are five games into pre-season, have won three and drawn two, so if it was league format it would be 11 points out of 15 which would put us right up there."

It might be Chester's opening friendly but Fowler is expecting a competitive clash against Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley's side.

"Chester are going to be a little bit behind us in terms of fitness and playing games," said Fowler.

"But any team under Bern and Jonno, it doesn't matter how long they have been back in. They may struggle a bit fitness-wise, but any team managed by those two will be ready for a game of football.

"They are going to give absolutely everything so we have got to be ready for that."

Fowler is looking forward to Radcliffe, who play one level below Chester and return to competitive action earlier than their visitors, testing themselves against a team from a higher division.

"Our season starts on September 19 so we are a little bit ahead of where Chester are," said Fowler.

"It will be interesting to see how we cope against better opposition and it will also be good for us to see where we are in terms of fitness.

"We have played teams in and around us or the league below. We have Chester and Chorley, and I want to beat them.

"I want to win every game, or certainly don't want to lose.

"I know people say results don't matter but they do because it breeds a good habit."

The clash is Chester's first outing since losing 3-2 to Altrincham in July's play-off eliminator tie.

The brave Blues fought back from 3-0 down with 10 men but just fell short, with the Robins winning two more games to clinch promotion to the fifth tier.

Goalkeeper Louis Gray has since made his loan move from Carlisle permanent and the 25-year-old refuses to dwell on the past, preferring to focus on the future.

"It was tough to take at the time and then even tougher to take when you see Altrincham get promoted," said Wrexham-born Gray.

"They kept two clean sheets in the other two play-off games, we put two past them and it could have been two or three more.

"But we can't think about that now. We have kept the core of the team together from last season, kept that strong spine, and I am looking forward to Saturday now."

Chester have arranged friendlies against a range of sides lower down the non-league pyramid, missing out on possible matches with Football League, Championship and Premier League clubs who start their new campaign in a fortnight.

But Gray is just looking forward to building fitness levels over the coming weeks before the Blues big kick-off in National League North on October 3.

"It is a strange one because we were back in yesterday and the game is straight away on Saturday," said Gray.

"It will be different for teams like Chester and Wrexham.

"The season is starting a month behind everyone else so in terms of pre-season games, we are going to have to play teams around similar levels; you can't have the big games which would have got the crowds in if crowds were allowed, and you can't test yourselves against the bigger teams.

"But it is all about getting minutes under your belt and getting ready for that first game in October."

Gray, who came through the ranks at home-town club Wrexham, wants to put a frustrating spell with Carlisle behind him and prove his worth at The Deva Stadium.

"My goal this year is to play every game, league and cup, and show what I can do," added Gray.

"I had a frustrating time at Carlisle; came on loan to Chester and just my luck, the coronavirus hit two games in.

"But the two gaffers were great with me through lockdown, keeping in contact about the play-offs and signing for next season, and I am looking forward to getting going now."