With two pre-season friendlies completed, Orient boss Russell Slade revealed he is beginning to think about the shape of his starting line-up.

The O’s suffered a 1-0 defeat at Blue Square Bet Premier side Ebbsfleet United on Saturday but the manager took the chance to give a group of his players longer on the pitch.

In last week’s opening friendly victory at Sutton United, nobody played more than 45 minutes for the club as the manager looks to bring his squad up to fitness at just the right time.

Saturday saw Dean Cox, Jimmy Smith and new signings Anthony Griffith and Mathieu Baudry involved for an hour in their bid to build up fitness.

Baudry also started the match in a more advanced midfield position before dropping back to his more accustomed role in the back four during the second period.

Smith, Cox and last season’s top scorer Kevin Lisbie were all unable to convert chances in the first half as United opened the scoring after the break.

O’s youngster Sean Grace made the mistake in the backline as a long ball forward bounced over his head and forward Nathan Elder was able to do the damage by scoring the game’s only goal.

Slade said the shape of his squad was beginning to form a focus in his mind but stressed that at this early stage of the summer season, fitness was still very much the priority.

He explained: “It is a little bit about the shape but we have only just started getting over a few little messages and a few pointers from the work we have done in the last couple of days.

“That is why I am pleased because there was a solid look about us in the first period from the work we have done.”

He continued: “I am so keen and eager to make sure that everybody gets there when it matters – that is the important thing.

“If anybody has had a slight strain or a slight niggle like Michael Symes for example, we have left him out. Michael should play his first football on Wednesday with a little bit of luck.”

Baudry was not the only player to take up a new position for the O’s on Saturday as Slade’s eighth signing of the summer, Lloyd James, switched from midfield to right back.

And the Brisbane Road boss added that it was important his players got the chance to show their versatility while revealing he felt the squad had progressed well in the short space of time they have been together.

The manager said: “Lloyd James has played a lot of games in the Championship at right back so we know he can do that and it is good that he gets some time there as well.

“Matty Baudry actually played centre midfield against us last season so we know he can do that and we saw today it was a really solid performance from him in the middle of the field.

“It is not about the results now. Our young player Gracey made the biggest blunder of the game and by the same token Affy (Afolabi Obafemi) I thought had probably the best opportunity of the game. That is football and it doesn’t matter at this stage.

“It is about making progress and even though we have not won a football match today, I think we have made a good deal of progress in a short period of time.”