CHRIS Mepham admits "it is going to be strange" if he faces former club Brentford this weekend.

The centre-back joined Cherries from the West London outfit in January and could feature against the Bees in a pre-season friendly at Griffin Park tomorrow (3pm).

Wales international Mepham, 21, came through the youth ranks at Brentford and played 48 times for the club before stepping into the Premier League.

And he says it would not be his first return to his former club should he be selected tomorrow.

Speaking to afcbTV, Mepham said: "It's going to be really nice. I've been back there a few times to watch some midweek games when we've had a day off the following day.

"It's going to be nice to see so many familiar faces because I had a really good few years there, made some really good relationships with people and it'll be good to go back there.

"It is going to be strange, even just warming up on the other side of the pitch, going into the different changing room, but obviously in your career you're going to move to different teams and you're probably going to face your old team.

"That's why I think it's important to always leave having a good relationship with the club and that's definitely something I wanted to keep when I left to join here."

Asked if he has caught up with any of his ex-team-mates ahead of the clash, Mepham added: "I spoke to a few of them recently, not so much talking about the game, just catching up with everyone, seeing how their holidays were.

"I've got some really good relationships with people there.

"Even some of the staff I'm really close to, so it will be a nice experience if I am involved in that game."