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“For me it’s strictly evaluation, but I do want to win because it’s against Calgary,” Paulus said. “They have been bragging quite a bit about beating a bunch of academy kids (last year) so we’ll go down there with a bunch of senior players and see what we do.”

Paulus has also brought in three defenders from Quebec, who likely won’t be in the lineup when the two teams play the return encounter on Oct. 20 (1:30 p.m.) at Clarke Stadium.

“I would say this is more of an audition,” Paulus said. “I think the spring roster, of the players playing on Saturday, I guess you’ll probably see seven or eight of them have a chance for the first team in April.”

Paulus was an assistant with FC Edmonton when they played in the NASL and took over as head coach in the second incarnation of the club under the CPL banner.

The league has been holding open tryouts throughout the country where coaches of the seven founding teams evaluate talent.

“I was at the open tryouts in Halifax and there were a couple of players that showed well,” Paulus said. “There is a good nucleus there and I think there are a couple of players there that can play at that level.”

Having been in charge of recruitment for a time with FC Edmonton under Colin Miller, Paulus developed a good eye for talent and knows the type of player he wants for his squad. It’s just a matter of trying to find them.

“They have to be my type of player, they have to be able to play the way I want, they have to be able to keep the ball and be technically well-above average,” Paulus said. “I’m looking at players with pace. I want to have a quick team, so they have to be fast. If they’re not quick, I probably won’t look at them.