A Watford XI, likely to prominently feature individuals from Hayden Mullins’ Under-23s and first team fringe players, will make the short trip to Stevenage tonight as the Hornets continue their pre-season preparations.

The visit to the Lamex Stadium, a 7.45pm kick-off, is set to see the club’s younger talent take centre stage owing to the Golden Boys’ friendly against Brentford which gets underway less than 24 hours later.

Javi Gracia’s men have just returned from a pre-season tour of Austria where they played out a 1-1 draw with Cologne and overcame Fortuna Dusseldorf 3-1.

The Under-23s, meanwhile, went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat against a Hemel Hempstead Town side featuring Watford legend Lloyd Doyley on Tuesday evening, following on from a 3-1 reverse at Welling United.

But despite the close geographical proximity between the two clubs, the historic gulf in footballing terms has restricted the Hertfordshire neighbours to just four previous meetings – only one of which has been a competitive fixture, Watford’s 1-0 League Cup first round victory in August 2014.

Friendly matches have, though, become something of a semi-regular fixture in the last decade, with the Hornets triumphing 2-0 in 2011, 2013, and 2016.

The transfer of Ben Wilmot to WD18 this summer might ensure those once sporadic meetings remain a staple of both clubs’ respective pre-season calendars over the next few years.

On Saturday, Gracia is expected to take a strong Hornets side to face Championship side Brentford at Griffin Park.

This weekend’s matches will be ideal tests as the club enter the final week of pre-season action culminating with the Graham Taylor Matchday against Sampdoria on Saturday, August 4.

It will be their first taste of the action without the services of Richarlison after the 21-year-old moved to Merseyside earlier this week to reunite with Marco Silva at Everton in a club-record move.

Watford could give Nathaniel Chalobah and Abdoulaye Doucoure their first run-outs of pre-season, while Jack Rodwell is certain to feature as the trialist steps up his bid to earn a contract with the Golden Boys.

Long-term injury absentee Tom Cleverley will remain out until the autumn at the earliest following surgery, while Tommie Hoban has since joined Aberdeen on loan and Dodi Lukebakio has sealed a temporary move to last week’s opponents Dusseldorf.

Tickets for Friday’s game with Stevenage are available on the Broadhall Way gate priced at £12 for Adults and Concessions, £10 for Under-19s, and £5 for Under-12s.

Admission in west London on Saturday is strictly on the gate only. Watford fans making the trip to Brentford are advised to arrive in good time ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

Tickets at Griffin Park are split into two sub-categories – seating and terracing. Seating prices are £12 for Over 18s and £1 for Under-18s. Standing prices, meanwhile, are £10 for Over 18s and £1 for Under-18s.