A local Select XI are sure to be put to the test when they rub shoulders with visiting Major League Soccer (MLS) side New England Revolution at the National Sports Centre (NSC) tonight.

The local squad, that went down 1-0 to a visiting Santos B side earlier this month, are facing a daunting task against opponents who have already made it perfectly clear they do not take any opposition lightly.

And there won?t be any exceptions to the rule when the touring MLS Western Conference side run out at the NSC tonight.

?We didn?t come here for a picnic and we?re looking forward to getting into a proper game,? warned Revolution?s legendary coach Steve Nicol.

?We?ve come here to do well, try to play some good football and get ourselves in shape prior to the start of the MLS season. So we are here to get on with business.

?Obviously this will be the first game for us for the season as we?ve only so far been playing indoors in Boston because of the weather. So we haven?t had a real 11 against 11 game yet and everybody is looking forward to getting on the field and playing.?

Former Liverpool utility player Nicol is expected to name his starting XI just prior to tonight?s kick off against the local select.

And with two practice sessions already under their belt since the team?s arrival on Sunday, coach Nicol is encouraged by the playing surface at the NSC and by his player?s work ethic so far on tour.

?I think the pitch is great and I think the training session we had today (yesterday) was excellent,? he added. ?It?s certainly a good pitch for passing the ball.?

The touring side will rest for the most part today before reconvening later this afternoon for the traditional pre-match ritual, Nicol explained.

Meanwhile, Nicol?s opposite number Dennis Brown has encouraged his players to approach tonight?s clash ?in a professional manner?.

?They are the professionals while we are amateurs. But my mentality even as a player was always try to play as a professional,? he said. ?If you think amateur then you will play as an amateur and doing what amateurs do. But if you think on a professional level then you will be able to compete for long periods of the match.

?And what I?m looking for from our players is to learn the lesson from the professional athletes. Not just on the field but also off the field and learn the sacrifices these guys have to make in order to perform at the optimum level.?

The local side held a final practice session at the NSC last night. Brown is expected to name his starting XI just prior to kick off.

However, two players he won?t have at his disposal are Somerset Trojans midfielder Jelani Scott and Southampton Rangers defender Kamen Tucker. Both players are currently off Island with the Bermuda Regiment in the Caribbean.

Tonight?s match will see unlimited substitutions.

?Hopefully our players will learn from the experience while also continuing to improve their overall game,? added Brown. ?I had the opportunity to play against a lot of professional teams during the 1980s and a lot of lessons were learned about professionalism both on and off the pitch.

?And it?s all up to the players now. If they want to go out there and sit back in awe then they are going to be in for a rude awakening. But if they go out there and play to their full potential with no fear, then they should be able to give a good account of themselves.?